London, UK, 9th October 2007 – Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain held a peaceful demonstration, attended by hundreds, on Saturday 29th September 2007 outside the Bangladeshi embassy to show support for the Muslims in Bangladesh, in protest to the insulting cartoons and articles published by Protom Alo. Amongst the speakers included Dr. Salim Aitchia, senior member of the Executive Committee of Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain, who also addressed over 100,000 Muslims at the Khilafah conference in Indonesia last August; Mujibul Islam, Bangla media representative of Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain; and Jamal Harwood, senior member of the Executive Committee of Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain. In addition to the campaign, thousands of Muslims from all over London signed a petition demanding the arrests of Mahfuz Anam (Publisher of Daily Protom Alo and Weekly 2000), Motiur Rahman (Editor of Protom Alo), and Golam Murtaza (Editor of Weekly 2000); and also the suspension of the licenses of the two publications as well as a demand for protecting the Islamic Aqeedah and values from government level.

In response to the campaign Deputy High Commissioner, Ashraf Uddin, asked to meet members of Hizb ut-Tahrir to discuss the issue. On Wednesday 3rd October 2007, delegates from the party, led by Mujibul Islam, and including Solicitor Abdul Kuddus, met the Deputy High Commissioner and handed in the petition. Mr. Ashraf Uddin said that the cartoons and articles were most definitely insulting to Mohammad (saw), and the Muslims Aqeedah and values. He said the anger and protests from the Muslims was a natural response to such insults and this kind of action from papers such as Protom Alo is not acceptable. Deputy High Commissioner said the petition from the Muslims in UK will be passed on to the Bangladeshi government and a meeting with the High Commissioner will be arranged to discuss the matter further.

Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain will continue to pursue the campaign on behalf of the thousands of Muslims in Britain, and demand justice, so that no other media outlet can freely abuse and insult their beloved Prophet Mohammad (saw), their Aqeedah and values, in the name of ‘freedom of the press’.

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