On the 8th of April, in Kars, nine year old Mert Aydın who was missing for two days, was found dead after being raped, hit with a stone on his head and strangulated.

Without doubt, the number of children in Turkey like Mert, who became victims of barbaric attacks and brutal murder, even though still unregistered in statistics, are substantially high. Moreover, even if only one child faces such a crime, this is surely a situation, which we as Muslims cannot accept and which demands us to search for the reasons. We are obliged to search for the truth and to work for a sound solution.

Turkey is ranked as third in the world in child abuse, and in particular the sexual abuse of children. According to data from the Ministry of Justice, in Turkey the number of cases related to sexual abuse, assault and rape crimes against children increased by 400% in the 5-year period from 2008 to 2013. According to statements of experts, Şefkat-Der's report and to the data of the Ministry of Justice, with the consideration of cases which do not reflect to the judicial authorities, in Turkey, at least 660,000 children were violated in 2012.

Such crimes do not only happen in the streets, and unseen corners, but also in state-run bodies. For example, 250 cases of rape in correction houses and in quarters for juvenile delinquents of large prisons were brought to court over the last 5 years. In 2009 alone, there were about 200 cases of abuse in boarding schools, regional primary boarding schools, and in care centers committed by personell, deputy directors, teachers and shopkeepers that were brought to court due to media attention.

Alongside this, according to data from Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK), between 2008-2011 the number of missing children has passed 27,000. However, the Association of Relatives of Missing Children (YAKAD) says that more than 30,000 children are missing. Despite disparity in the numbers, it is unquestionable that there has been a large increase in the number of missing children in the country (123% from 2008 to 2011 with only 5974 children found again during this same period). In addition, what is most striking is that almost 65% of those missing are girls. Data on the number of missing children varies from institution to institution, and just as with violence against women there is no continuous and reliable data bank about this issue.

The criminal cases involving children has also increased rapidly. According to TUIK research, almost 677,000 cases involving children have been filed within the last four years. In 2008, this number was almost 133,000. At the same time run-aways from child care centres has reached an exorbitant level, amd there are even plans to establish rehabilitation centres in order to prevent these children from breaking away.

According to data from the General Directorate of Security, main reasons for 13-18 year olds running away from home includes extramarital relationships, family pressures, searching for adventure or pursuit of a job. These reasons, are the outcome of raising children in the absence of the implementation of the Islamic system and values in Turkey, including the Islamic social system. This has bred a lack of respect to their parents and free-relationships on the one hand, and on the other, a flawed understanding of livelihood (risq) which leads to them abandoning their families in pursuit of individualistic desires and dreams.

The measures taken by the Government regarding these issues are establishing rehabilitation centres for abused children and special Child Monitoring Stations (ÇİM), which provide legal, medical and psychological help to abused children. Even the lower limit of the sexual assault offences against children has been raised from 3 to 15 years. In addition, the General Directorate of Security has issued public warnings and provided information on its internet page about how to prevent the disappearance of children and what to do in case of a loss. However, these actions have failed to challenge the scale of this problem.

Indeed, for 90 years, this Ummah has had to face all kinds of atrocities which it could not even contemplate would affect its societies. After removing the rule of Islam from the Ummah, disregarding the Islamic values it had embraced, and replacing them with liberal freedoms under the guise of the rhetoric of human rights, women's rights, and children's rights, the capitalist secular lifestyle it bred has led this Ummah to this lowest social and moral point! Secularism diminished religious values to a matter of individual preference, restricted it to homes and mosques, and away from public life, and nurtured an environment that encouraged individuals to express their personal freedoms and hence pursue their carnal desires rather than follow the Laws of Allah (swt). This created a dangerous environment for children and adults alike. It resulted in Muslims becoming distant from the sublime values of Islam and the Limits of the Creator that He established for the believer - values and Limits which create God-conscious personalities of noble, upright behaviour who carry a mentality of accountability to their Rabb in every action they perform.

Allah(swt) has said:

أَرَأَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَهَهُ هَوَاهُ أَفَأَنتَ تَكُونُ عَلَيْهِ وَكِيلًا * أَمْ تَحْسَبُ أَنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ أَوْ يَعْقِلُونَ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا كَالْأَنْعَامِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ سَبِيلًا

"Have you ever considered the case of him who has taken his carnal desire for his god? Can you take responsibility for guiding him to the Right Way? Do you think that most of them hear or understand? For they are merely like cattle; nay, even worse than them." [Al-Furqan: 43-44]

How much more do our children have to suffer??? Together with the abolishment of the Islamic system from the world, Allah's (swt) Mercy and Protection afforded to this Ummah through His Laws were eliminated. Today, the masses of the Muslim world are not taught and educated with the teachings of the Qur'an and Sunnah from an early age. Rather they are exposed to a corrupt secular liberal system which pushes individuals to adhere to their lust and desires. Then after causing such a calamity with the very values it promotes to the people, this dangerous system absurdily implements a handful of penalties and policies which unsurprisingly have little impact in addressing the immoral acts and crimes within society. So as long this capitalist secular system continues to plague Turkey and the rest of our Muslim lands Muslims will not be able to protect their children! Rather such evil behaviour will undoubtedly multiply day by day.

There is no other way out from this disturbing reality other than returning the system of Allah (swt) and His Messenger Muhammad Mustafa (saw) to our Muslim lands in order to nurture once again the elevated and noble morals and personalities that Islam expects from the believers. It is therefore bringing back the Khilafah "Caliphate" Rashidah alone that will not only establish a safe environment for our children but create shining generations of Muslims who shun and fight corruption and immorality rather than engage in it.

Allah (swt) says:

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ فِي أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيم * ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَاهُ أَسْفَلَ سَافِلِينَ * إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ فَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ غَيْرُ مَمْنُونٍ * فَمَا يُكَذِّبُكَ بَعْدُ بِالدِّينِ * أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَحْكَمِ الْحَاكِمِينَ

"Verily, We created man of the best stature (mould), Then We reduced him to the lowest of the low, Save those who believe and do righteous deeds, then they shall have a reward without end. Then what (or who) causes you to deny the Din? Is not Allah the Best of judges?" [At-Tin: 4-8]

Written for The Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Umm Khalid
Member of The Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir