Leiden University Student Repository

Booij, Maurits Jan (2017)

The Appeal of Hizb ut-Tahrir: an Exploration of Political Islam and Hizb ut-Tahrir in the UK

Bachelor thesis | International Studies (BA)

This thesis examines the reasons behind the appeal of Hizb ut-Tahrir in the UK between 1990 and 2000. Hizb ut-Tahrir is an transnational Islamic political party which seeks to establish an Islamic state. It also compares Hizb ut-Tahrir’s ideology with the ideology of key movements within political Islam: the Muslim Brotherhood and Jamaat-e-Islami. This research also touches upon the question why (young) Muslims born in a Western society are attracted to organisations with a radical goal. The main development that contributed to the popularity of Hizb ut-Tahrir is a combination of the following factors: the large-scale expulsion of Hizb ut-Tahir members in the Middle East; the liberty of association and freedom of speech included in a liberal democracy; racism towards British-born Muslims in the UK which led to segregation; the identity void among second generation Muslims in the UK and the efficient recruitment strategy of Hizb ut-Tahrir on campuses and universities.

Hizb ut-Tahrir

Political Islam

Islam in the UK

Muslim Brotherhood

Jamaat-e-Islami

Islamic State

Author

Booij, Maurits Jan

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Middle East

Supervisors

Boender, Welmoet

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en