Gaza government bans film, decision deemed as 'injustice'

Documentary tells of horrors and catastrophes endured by contemporary Muslims The decision by Hamas to ban a documentary on the Syrian revolution has sparked a dispute between the movement and Hizb ut-Tahrir which wanted to show the film in public places around the Gaza Strip starting Sunday in Rafah.Hizb ut-Tahrir has described the ban on the documentary Wa jaat thawratul Sham belhaq [And the Levant's Revolution Came in Righteousness] as "an unacceptable injustice."
Hiz ut-Tahrir spokesperson Hasan al-Madhoun said: "According to procedures relating to public gatherings set by the law, we notified Hamas government on Sunday January 27 2013 about the showing of a documentary on the blessed Syrian revolution. Unexpectedly, we were surprised by their response two days later saying 'Go ahead and God bless you, but only in closed halls and after a copy of the film is presented.'"
"We have been in contact with the relevant authorities and have discussed both conditions to make it clear that Hizb ut-Tahrir has the right to carry out any cultural or political activities as long as any administrative arrangements for the organisation of the showing are followed."
"We agreed that the showing will go ahead in all the locations on the condition that we liaise with each governorate over providing the location. We then received a message from the Hamas government saying 'You can hold the showing in halls according to the areas and you must adhere to the decision on pain of legal responsibility. The showings are forbidden to go ahead in the areas with which you have notified us.'"
The spokesperson added: "What harm is the showing of this to Hamas, at a time when the world has failed the people of Levant and everyone coming or going has conspired against it? Has [Hizb ut-Tahrir] not carried out similar activities over the past years? So what is new with Hamas? Do they not allow the factions to hold similar activities — even musical concerts — in public places? Or is the freedom to working with the public tied to the organisers' identity and the subject on offer? Does the Hamas government have a problem with Levant's revolution?"
"[Hizb ut-Tahrir] reserves its absolute right to carry out any political acts to express its rejection of this unjust police and no-one, but no-one, will stop it expressing its opinions, ideas and duty to bear the dawah."
Members of the organisation held a protest vigil Saturday afternoon in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza. Protesters carried signs and banners bearing slogans denouncing Hamas' decision. These included "Why is Hizb ut-Tahrir prohibited while Hamas is allowed to hold showings all day long?" and "Political and intellectual work are not subject to political guardianship by any authority."
The 40-minute documentary tells of the horrors and catastrophes endured by the contemporary Muslim Ummah and accuses Western powers of undermining revolutions in Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen to ensure that real change does not occur and that old regimes are not uprooted. The film discusses the Syrian revolution at length, describing it as "the Ummah's revolution" because it demands the establishment of the Islamic Caliphate, as evident by scenes showing a pledge to establish the pan-Islamic entity signed by the various brigades and battalions seeking to topple the Syrian regime.