Signs of a new confrontation between the ruling party the "General People's Congress" and the dissident "Islah Party" (Reform Party) in Yemen are building up, based on the attempts to control the mosques, after some decisions the Ministry of Religious Endowments and Guidance took since the constitution of the new government in May, to cut down the number of preachers related to the Islah, and stop the attempt to gradually control the Friday sermons and the religious activities with factional aspect of the Islah, such as summer camps, schools to study the Koran and religious seminars.
| That's a pretty run-on sentence. But it sounds like the Yemenis intend to actually crack down on the recruiting mill... |
It is worth noting that a number of mosques' preachers belonging to the Islah party won the membership of the Parliament in the last elections, some, notably in Sanaa, on the behalf of high ranked leaders in the ruling party. The government is aiming to cut the wings of the Islah and restrain his political and factional power in the mosques and the charity associations, after it succeeded in dismantling the (religious) scientific institutions two years ago. The Assistant Secretary General of the People's Congress, Mohamad Hussein Al Aydruss accused the Islah Party of trying to dominate the mosques, after the closing of the scientific institutions, asking the opposition to reject to religious extremism and provocation and fanaticism some mosques, which parties are working on dominating, are calling upon. He assured in his statements transmitted by the Internet site of the Congress that the ruling party "is reaching out to all the political forces to fight this phenomenon."
| In that case, expect more shoot-em-ups and more mad bombers, and expect pious condemnations by the Islah heirarchy. |
Al Aydruss considered that "the attempt to disturb the security and peace of Yemen comes through the fanatic thoughts and the religious extremism which infiltrates in the minds of some members and then into the terrorist groups." He assured that "this is one reason of the emergence of violence, extremism and terrorism in Yemen for the executor of terrorist acts in the country is part of an international web."
| Well, by golly! They get it! |
The Islah Party expects the Ministry Of Endowments to take important decisions concerning the ouster of many preachers suspected to being members of it. |