Kazakhstan dismantles secret extremist cell of Hizb ut-Tahrir

Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry's anti-extremism unit, with support from the National Security Committee, has dismantled a clandestine cell of the extremist organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir in the city of Kentau.

The ideology of Hizb ut-Tahrir is aimed at overthrowing the secular constitutional order and implementing Sharia law in the country, Caliber.Az reports per Kazakhstan media.

During the operational investigation, authorities discovered evidence of the group's members propagating terrorist ideas and insulting the religious sentiments of individuals from other faiths.

The cell's members reportedly used online resources to access and disseminate lectures by foreign radical preachers associated with Hizb ut-Tahrir. The group's leader had previously been convicted for involvement in the activities of a banned religious extremist organisation.

As a result of these operations, ten members of the cell have been detained. Significant quantities of extremist literature and other physical evidence were seized during searches of their residences.

A pre-trial investigation is currently underway, focusing on the promotion of terrorism and incitement of religious hatred.

Thus, Hizb ut-Tahrir, also known as the Party of Liberation, is a transnational Islamic political organization founded in 1953 in Jerusalem by Taqi al-Din al-Nabhani. The party seeks to re-establish the Caliphate, a unified Islamic state governed by Sharia law, and aims to promote its ideology through peaceful means, including political activism, education, and outreach.

Hizb ut-Tahrir is known for its strong opposition to Western influence in Muslim countries and its criticism of existing governments, which it views as corrupt or illegitimate.

The party operates in various countries, often facing government repression and bans, particularly in regions where its activities are seen as a threat to national security. It maintains a focus on Islamic unity and revival, advocating for a return to what it sees as pure Islamic governance and practices.

By Aghakazim Guliyev