Wish you were here? Hizb-ut-Tahrir's plans for a new caliphate

[...] Hizb ut-Tahrir's main goal is to establish a theocratic state - an Islamic caliphate. Whatever the historical merits (or not) of this now-defunct system of government, it is difficult to see how anyone could seriously regard its return as a step forward in the 21st century.

Some idea of what life would be like under Hizb's new caliphate can be gleaned from its draft constitution. Although the constitution says all citizens "shall be treated equally regardless of religion, race, colour or any other matter" (article 6), the rest of the document proposes a system of institutionalised discrimination, particularly in relation to non-Muslims and women.

Non-Muslims

Non-Muslims living under the caliphate would be subject to a special poll tax (article 140) and, although they would be entitled to become members of the consultative council (equivalent to a parliament), their role would be "confined to their voicing of complaints in respect to unjust acts performed by the rulers and/or the misapplication of Islam upon them" (article 103).

Citizens born or brought up as Muslims would not be allowed to abandon their faith. "Those who are guilty of apostasy (murtadd) from Islam are to be executed" (article 7c). Read more