[16/March/2010]

From Russia Today

Translated by: Saba staff

Edited into English by: Mahmoud Assamiee

Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs Hamoud al-Hitar affirmed that al-Qaeda's danger in Yemen is lesser than what the media outlets described.

In interview with Russia Today TV, he referred al-Qaeda existence to negligence of Arab, Islamic and foreign states those militants who fought in Afghanistan during the cold war upon a request from those states which suddenly have become cracking down on them everywhere.

The minister highlighted the challenges facing Yemen because of al-Qaeda activities' growth and how to deal with them.

The following interview reveals more about al- Qaeda's growth in Yemen.

Q: What are the reasons behind al-Qaeda's growth in Yemen?

A: Al-Qaeda danger in Yemen is lesser than what is being described at foreign media outlets. The real volume of the network does not reach 10 percent of what has been exaggerated. There are many factors helped in growing this group in Yemen led by circumstances which the world lived in during the cold war and its consequences on the international stance, as well as the attitude taken by Arab, Islamic and foreign governments against those who fought in Afghanistan. They fought in support with these states where they had been hosted in any of their capitals as guests. After ending the war and the collapse of the Soviet Union, all these countries ignored these militants and even have chased them.

Q: Do you think that the raise up of poverty rate is the important reason to spread al-Qaeda intellect in Yemen?

öA: No doubt that economic factor granted suitable environment for spreading such thought. There are also several factors helped these persons in such areas either geographic or tribal sides.

Q: The President of the Republic authorized you to follow up the extremist's guidance file, how can you describe this trial?

A: The dialogue, Yemen has initiated with militants was received with international satisfaction and achieved much benefits on local and external levels. The local benefits are getting back the hope and living in peace with these elements if they leave the violence. Living without hope put a man between two choices whether be a killer or killed but the dialogue has found out third choice which is living in peace. The second benefit is re-correcting the wrong concepts some youth have in minds about Islam.


Q: This means that you conducted dialogue with them, how can you describe their projects in Yemen?

As you know, al-Qaeda in general has no political project, but it tries to limit the west influence, especially US interference in Islamic world, but it has not clear projects and programs. Al-Qaeda's ideology is based on two things; treating Islamic governments as infidels and proscribing non Muslims' blood.

A: What do you say about what is being circulating that there are Islamic schools and universities are not under government's supervision?

A: All religious schools and centers are working under the government's control, either by educational foundations or concerned security authorities. Previously, the security authorities were supervising these centers and were reporting to concerned authorities about their activities.
Later, there was an agreement between ministry of endowment and education to integrate with the supervisory body on these schools through establishing specialized sector in endowment ministry and providing it with qualified cadres to do this task as demanded. The President issued directives to appoint undersecretary for the ministry for Holy Qura'an preservation.

We amended the ministry's law, accordingly we have supreme council for the ministry and it was given tasks of discussion and approving curriculums for the Supreme Institute for Guidance and educational foundations. The institute is subjected to ministry's supervision.

The council held the first meeting two weeks ago and the significant thing it has made was approving the common policies for religious guidance. This indicates that Yemen government has real intent to combat terrorism and extremism.

Q: Do you think there are external factors have contributed in inflaming the internal situations in Yemen?

A: The world has been living in unannounced state of emergency since 11 Sep. 2001. Every country has prisoners with charges relating to links with al-Qaeda. Yemen studied the terrorist operations which were carried out around the world and in Yemen. The study found several results. One of the results says that every terrorist operation must have its own doctrine it embarked on, either religious or irreligious, Islamic or Christian, or any other principle. On this basis, any thought must be faced with another and the best way to face doctrine problems is dialogue.

Q: What are the fruits of the dialogue?

öA: The dialogue was conducted first with those who were with security authorities as President called on group of scholars to special meeting attended by high senior officials. The president reviewed prisoners' problems saying that there were detainees who didn't commit big crimes to be convicted, but if we let them they will hurt themselves and nation. They insist on their thoughts to the degree that security forces can not convince them to change their thoughts, so we must change their ideas by dialogue. Approving dialogue is the best way to combat the terrorism in addition to security and economic measures and procedures which impose the importance regional and international cooperation to fight terrorism.




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