Al-Hitar: Ignoring militants helps al-Qaeda`s growth 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.