Muslim clerics send warning message to London Conference

Posted in: Front Page
Written By: Zaid al-Alaya’a
Article Date: Jan 14, 2010 - 11:39:30 PM

YEMEN - Over 150 religious scholars from all governorates of Yemen issued a statement rejecting any direct or indirect interference in Yemen’s affairs from foreign forces. Tens of scholars gathered today at al-Mushhd Mosque to express their absolute rejection of foreign sides interfering in Yemen.

Any intervention, the statement said, from any foreign side, will be rejected and have major consequences. “Islam allows for Jihad, a right to defend it’s own land in case of any invasion to Yemen,” the statement read. The Islamic scholars rejected military bases or structures in lands or territorial water.

Islam prohibits the killing of citizens, non-Muslim civilians, and any attacks against these groups are bound by Islamic law. The statement expressed the scholars’ reaction to the air raid attacks in Arhab. “The killings in Arhab, which resulted in the loss of civilians, should be sent to prosecution to provide justice for the innocent.”

In the statement, they expressed their refusal of invasion or any destruction of Yemen’s sovereignty. They also called upon the government to nullify and reject any political or security interference in Yemen’s affairs: any violations of Yemen’s religion, independence, or Yemeni land.

The statement mentioned that military cooperation with any foreign side is rejected in Islamic Sharia, and would harm the country’s interest.

The religious scholars decided to establish a committee to look at the incidents, reasons, and consequences to work out solutions from the Sharia. They call upon all Yemenis to refer to the Quran and Islamic Sharia, in order to unite. They also asked that the Arab League and Islamic organizations to stand with them.

Sheikh Abdul-Majid al-Zindani warned against foreign interference in Yemen, claiming that those who try to justify it by saying the Yemeni government is collapsing, are only trying to exploit the country’s riches, similar to what happened in Iraq. He also expressed satisfaction with Obama’s announcement that they are not planning to send any troops to Yemen and encouraged the US administration to not interfere in any affairs that are the Yemeni affairs.

He also questioned the upcoming conference that will be held in London saying that Yemenis have to solve their issues themselves. He said that the religious scholars’ statement came as a result of the worries of Yemenis at large from the interference of foreign sides in Yemeni issues.

http://www.yobserver.com/front-page/10017957.html