By Majed Iqbal- Crime- the topic of discussion which is hot in the press, on the lips of Politicians and the subject of detailed disocourse on Television was brought into the limelight on Saturday 6th July in Rochdale.
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Organisers, Hizb ut-Tahrir, deliberated upon the subject issue, presenting a case of facts, figures and analysis on the growing endemic of crime to a crowd of 90 people.
Mazhar Khan, touched upon key ideas which had allowed crime to flourish. "Were the existing punishments a detterrant or an incentive?" he asked the audience. He cited examples of how teenage crime amongst youth was seen as an easy alternative.
You steal, get caught, put into prison for a couple of months where you socialise with like minded individuals, no rent to pay, free food, Nintendo Wii's to fill your time with, free holidays for repeat offenders to Blackpool and most importantly you keep the money made out of the theft.
"How are these measures supposed to curb crime?" asked Mazhar.
"However, Crime was not restricted to council Estate yobs" cited the speaker. "What about the White collar crime, internet Fraud, Politicians buying houses with mortgages from government Funds, Politicians embezzling and fiddling with figures of governement expenditure and thousands of innonents killed in Iraq through Policies of the government?"
Mazhar Khan quoted the example of an interview a teenager involved in creime from Hacney gave on television. "We see messages in magazines, TV, Billboards and on the street- that to be successful you need to have dollars- that is what is success in life" said the teenager. Mazhar Khan pointed out that "here lies the real issue".
Crime was fundamentally a consequence of an aspiration in life that was sought- material benefit, regardless the harm it may cause. "This principle is known as Utilitarianism- that happiness is maximising the benefit and minimising the harm" said Mazhar.
The second speaker, Sharif Hafezi delivered the keynote speech on "Is Shariah just about punishments?". The talk was based on the growing mis-represenation of Islams Laws and policies on Crime and punishment that has regulalrly gained attention in Newspapers, blogs and Documentaries.
For most, it was surprising to see how despite failures of tackling crime, through releasing prisoners early from sentances, lack of spaces in jails, a whole year full of youth stabbings, gun crime, increasing drugs related activities, that anyone would be in any position to level accusations on how harsh Shariah punishments are!
Sharif hafezi detailed how the development of personalities in a society governed by Islam is the cornerstone to tackling crime. Their god conciuosness (taqwa) would be the first detterrant to commit a crime. Secondly the community and how it would look down on the crime would haunt the indiviuduals conciousness who would live amongst them. Lastly, the state would intervene and after a thorough juduicial process and relevant proofs, only then would the punishments be applied.
Sharif detailed how there were even specific courts in a society based on Islam set up to deal with crimes committed by the Rulers who would take them to account.
Sharif highlighted how the rule of law was applied for all, even if a non-muslim citizen had a case against a fellow muslim citizen- justice would be dispensed.
Both Speakers were clear in mapping out that the Caliphate whom Hizb ut-Tahrir is working to restore in the muslim world would practically demonstrate to the World the justice of Islam in tackling issues realted to state and Society.
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