Arrest of Women in Aleppo: What Is Hizb ut-Tahrir's Role?

Local sources have confirmed reports of the arrest of several women in Aleppo after their participation in a peaceful demonstration demanding the release of detainees held in Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) prisons. The sources indicated that the women took part in the protest held in Saadallah Al-Jabiri Square but did not return to their homes afterward.

According to a correspondent from the platform Verify-sy in Aleppo, the demonstration coincided with a celebratory gathering in Saadallah Al-Jabiri Square to mark the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s deposed regime. The correspondent explained that several women and men raised pictures and banners of individuals they claimed had been imprisoned by HTS for a long time due to their “demand for reopening the battlefronts,” as they described it. The protesters called for an end to arbitrary detentions and for securing the rights of detainees.

The correspondent added that the demonstrators chanted slogans demanding an "Islamic Caliphate" and "implementation of Sharia law," in response to slogans raised at a recent gathering in Damascus that rejected a religious state and called for a secular one.

A knowledgeable source in Aleppo stated that the group organizing the protest is affiliated with Hizb ut-Tahrir (Party of Liberation), which advocates for the establishment of an "Islamic Caliphate." The source noted that HTS has detained several leaders of the party, who have consistently criticized HTS and its leader Ahmad al-Shara since the group's internal transformations and the marginalization of hardline members. The source further mentioned that Hizb ut-Tahrir also criticizes certain revolutionary factions and armed groups for failing to adopt the Caliphate project or for collaborating with international and regional powers.

So far, HTS has not issued any official statement regarding these arrests, sparking widespread anger among locals and human rights activists who have called for the immediate release of the detainees and the protection of free expression.

What Is Hizb ut-Tahrir?

Hizb ut-Tahrir in Syria is part of the global Hizb ut-Tahrir organization, a political Islamist group that seeks to re-establish the Islamic Caliphate based on the Prophetic model. The party was founded in 1953 in Jerusalem by Sheikh Taqiuddin al-Nabhani and is active in numerous countries, including Syria.

Hizb ut-Tahrir's Ideas and Objectives

Restoring the Islamic Caliphate: The party aims to re-establish the Caliphate system as a religious obligation and the path to uniting the Muslim Ummah.

Implementing Sharia Law: It advocates for Sharia-based governance in all aspects of life, including politics, economics, and judiciary.

Rejection of Current Systems: The party views the existing regimes in the Muslim world as illegitimate for failing to implement Islam.

Non-Violence: It claims to use non-violent means, relying on awareness-raising and political activism to achieve its goals.

Presence in Syria

Secret Activity: The party operated covertly in Syria for decades due to the political environment, which prohibits opposition groups.

Persecution: Members have faced arrests and persecution from the Syrian regime for their political and ideological activities.

Post-2011 Role: After the Syrian uprising, the party attempted to expand its influence but has had limited impact compared to other factions.

Criticism of Hizb ut-Tahrir

Idealism: Critics argue that the party's ideas are impractical in the current political and social context.

Rejection of Democracy: Its opposition to democracy and electoral systems has drawn criticism from other Islamic and political groups.

Lack of Practical Engagement: The party is often accused of focusing on theoretical discourse without actively contributing to tangible changes on the ground.

Stance on the Syrian Revolution

While Hizb ut-Tahrir supported the Syrian revolution in principle, it criticized certain revolutionary factions and armed groups for not adopting its vision of a Caliphate or for cooperating with international and regional actors.