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Text of report by London-based independent newspaper Al-Quds al- Arabi website on 17 July
[Report by Khalid al-Hammadi in Sanaa: "Analysts consider the formation of the Virtue Commission in Yemen as a sign of the weakness of the state or intended to divert the attention of the public away from its suffering prior to the parliamentary elections; the Commission for the Propagation of Virtue or the 'Yemeni Al- Mutawa'ah' declares war on prostitution, alcoholic beverages, drugs, and child trade"]

The commission to protect virtue in Yemen held its first conference in Sanaa yesterday. The conference -that was held with official backing -was attended by a large gathering of senior religious scholars and intellectuals from various parts of Yemen with a noticeable absence of the leaders of the opposition parties, including the Islamist Reform Party. The conferees decided to change the name of the commission from the Virtue Commission to the Commission for the Propagation of Virtue thus becoming identical in character and tasks to the Saudi Commission for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice that is popularly known as the “Al- Mutawa’ah”.

The “conference for virtue” that was presided over by Shaykh Abd- al-Majid al-Zandani stated that the activity of the commission is “today’s battle” to revive the duty of propagating virtue and preventing vice. Shaykh Humud al-Dharihi, the official in charge of the preparatory committee of this nascent commission, delivered a speech in which he said, “We are faced with two projects, the civilized Islamic project and that of those that are distant from Islam”. He said that the proponents of the second project “support projects related to disbelief, polytheism, ignorance, and permissiveness”. He added that this was the justification and motive behind the formation of this commission at the present time in Yemen in order to fortify Yemen’s future generations and society. Al- Dharihi added: “The fifth column -the corrupt column that is sowing corruption and that is influenced by these ideas and deviations that are alien to the faith and wisdom of Yemen -has succeeded in transforming the battle for virtue and prevention of Al-Munkar [all reprehensible deeds in Islam] into a quarrel, an altercation, and a confrontation among the sons of the same united rank that should repulse corruption and those that sow corruption each in accordance with his position. The religious scholars can do this with good counsel and statement of facts while the press can do it by exposing corruption in all its forms. But we were surprised by a fabricated battle between their eminences the religious scholars and the press that came to the rescue of the sources of moral, social, and political corruption and to watch an unjustified conflict among those that should unify their efforts, ranks, writings, and statements to confront this corruption. Al-Dhahiri added: The religious scholars wisely held their patience until some vented what was in their hearts and called for this conference to clarify the facts, remove the suspicions, and reassure those that are worried about any action that may violate the legal provisions and thus harm individual freedoms and respect of the dignity of the people. He said that moral corruption in Yemen is no longer an issue of individual behaviour or conduct but has become based on private and official institutionalized action. He said that the acts of corruption “have become institutions that import, exploit, and market poverty and need, institutions that license, and institutions that protect” in a reference to the involvement of some state organs in preparing the climate and providing a protection umbrella to practice vice. He said that there are many justifications for the formation of the virtue commission or the “Propagation of Virtue” commission. The most prominent of these justifications, he said, are “the growing sex trade and prostitution in Yemen within the sight and hearing of the state organs that even go to the point of issuing official licenses under the name of dancers. Other reasons are the spreading sale and trade in alcoholic beverages, hashish, and drugs in a scandalous manner, the disappearance and escape of schoolgirls through middle-men to places to practice vice, and the spread of compact discs of decadent and nude dancing with idlers coming from some Gulf countries and copying and selling these discs on Internet sites and in the markets of the Gulf countries. All this has brought dishonour to Yemen and distorted its image”.

The ramifications of forming the Virtue Commission have led to a broad debate among Yemeni circles, especially between the religious scholars that are calling for the formation of the commission as a duty mandated by Shari’ah and between the intellectuals that argue that the formation of this commission is no more than a new way in the name of religion to suppress individual freedoms as well as the official suppression from which these intellectuals are suffering in a country that claims to embrace democracy and freedoms. The formation of this religious institution has raised the reassurance of Islamist circles. However, it has raised the fears and worries of liberal circles for the potential resulting restrictions on their individual freedoms. One liberal went to the point of saying: “The best way to avoid the whip of the Al-Mutawa’ah in Yemen is to escape to southern Saudi Arabia to engage Saudi women in a marriage of convenience that the Al-Mutawa’ah there have legitimized. We will spend the weekend there like our Saudi brothers that spend their summer vacation in Yemen under the guise of a tourism marriage”. Political analysts have told Al-Quds al-Arabi that the authorities may be behind the timing of proclaiming the formation the virtue commission. Their aim may be to confuse the opposition on the political level prior to the parliamentary elections scheduled to be held in April and to preoccupy the public with this issue and divert its attention away from fateful issues, such as the war in Sa’dah and the aggravating situation in the south”. The political analysts added that the authorities may have exploited the enthusiasm of the religious scholars and shaykhs to this idea. They supported and backed the religious scholars implicitly in return for support for their policies in some crucial issues. This was clearly obvious in Shaykh Al-Zandani’s address to the conference yesterday during he raised the issue of taking a stand on the war in Sa’dah against the Al-Huthist insurgents. Al-Zandani urged a decisive military ending of the issue that is a purely military and political issue that has nothing to do with this conference and its newborn commission (The Protection of Virtue).

Al-Quds al-Arabi has learned from an informed source that two days prior to the convocation of this conference, Yemeni President Ali Abdallah Salih met prominent leaders that called for the formation of this commission headed by Shaykh Abd-al-Majid al- Zandani and Shaykh Humud Hashim al-Dharihi as well as tribal leader Shaykh Sadiq Abdallah al-Ahmar. According to the source, these leaders obtained the Yemeni president’s approval and official support to form this commission to be an official institution and not just a private or non-governmental organization.

Originally published by Al-Quds al-Arabi website, London, in Arabic 17 Jul 08.

IML

A group of Yemenite clerics says women in the country should stay at home in order to protect society from “vice and sexual chaos.”

Women who leave their houses will mix with men and this will lead to extra-marital relations, loss of decency, adultery and illegal children, the clerics wrote in a booklet, the Gulf Times reported.

Yemen is showing signs of increased piety with the formation of a new vice police, akin to a similar force in Saudi Arabia.

Clerics from the new Morality Authority held their first meeting in ‘Sana on Wednesday.

Critics, in particular liberals, say the new authority, which has the blessing of the government, is a way to stifle personal freedoms in the name of religion.

Analysts say the timing of the formation of this new authority is not coincidental.

The regime, they say, wants to place the opposition in an awkward position ahead of the elections next April, and deflect attention from other problems in the country such as the war against Al-Houthi rebels in the north, according to the London-based Al-Quds Al-‘Arabi.

The government also seeks the support of religious clerics in political decisions.

SANAA: Yemen’s conservative leaders, Islamist opposition and tribal leaders have formed an “unnatural” alliance to fight growing depravity, local newspapers said on Wednesday. Known as the “Committee for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice” - reminiscent of that backed by the religious police in neighboring Saudi Arabia - the group was formed late on Tuesday at a meeting in the Yemeni capital. Delegates, united under the slogan “May the ship [Yemen] not sink,” expressed alarm at what they said was growing depravity in society, including drinking of alcohol, mixing of sexes in schools, “depraved” television shows and uncontrolled access to the Internet. They also denounced the “sex trade” and use of drugs, without however mentioning the widespread, traditional chewing of qat, a mildly intoxicating leaf. Some Yemenis see this as a major social problem, undermining the economies of many households and affecting the efficiency of the country’s work force.
- AFP

Yemenonline YemenOnline- July 15,2008 (Exclusive)- This morning, Apollo Exhibition Grounds in Sana’a, owned by Hameed Al Ahmar, the ambitious Shaykh, businessman, Member of Parliament, top Islah leader and vocal opponent of President Saleh, were venue for the “Inaugural Al Fadheelah (Virtue) Meeting of the Ulema, Shaykhs and Notables of Yemen”. Shaykh Abdul Majeed Al Zandani presided over the gathering of six thousand delegates and supporters of the yet-to-be-licensed Vice and Virtue Commission that has already started its activity in Sana’a Aden and Hodiedah by raiding restaurants and harassing beach visitors, see (www.yemenonline.info/news-813.html ).The enthusiastic audience, in their signature beards and short Thawbs, applauded and raised both hands when Zandani asked for a show of hands in support of continued war till victory against Al- Houthi rebels of Sadah, as well as for the establishment of branches across the country for the Vice and Virtue Commission.During the meeting a statement by the “Ulema of Yemen” demanded complete segregation of the sexes, banning women from travel without a male escort, banning public concerts and dancing of women, and the participation of women in mixed workshops and conferences. They especially cited a dance show in which male and female dancers held hands.In the press conference that followed, Yemenonline asked Zandani how he would reconcile these demands with Yemen’s obligations under international agreements to protect the rights of women. “We let others commit adultery with our women! By God we shall starve to death instead!” he cried in response. Zandani claimed that past activities of the Vice and Virtue Police were the private initiative of zealous Muslims, not directed by his proposed Commission. The proposed Commission will offer advice to law enforcement agencies, he added.A more ominous position was expressed by Shaykh Hamoud al Tharehi, who has come to national prominence a few years ago in connection to a pyramid scheme called “Al Mungheth”. Shortly after a journalist pointed out that one of the most vocal critics of the proposed Commission is brigadier Yahya Saleh, Commander of the Central Security Organization (CSO) and nephew to the President, Tharehi first apologized for having called journalists “Addicts”, then declared that the proposed Commission will target organizations and prominent individuals who encourage vice and brothels and against whom law enforcement agencies stand helpless. In its weekly meeting, the Council of Ministers issued a statement indicating that “no private entity has the right to curtail the rights of the people.

MC : Sana’a, Yemen - Yemeni conservative Muslim preachers on Tuesday withdrew calls for the establishment of an organisation for promoting virtue and combating vice after rights activists voiced fears that religious police could undermine freedoms.

Around 4,000 preachers gathered at a conference centre in the capital Sana’a and called instead for an annual meeting to discuss violations against teachings of the Islamic law and public morals.

The gathering particularly criticised prostitution activities in some cities and publicly serving alcohol at hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners and locals alike.

‘Our society is being invaded by the viruses of vice that destroyed the people, and it is necessary now to protect and guard the religion and people,’ fundamentalist Islamic leader Abdul-Majeed al-Zendani said in an address to the gathering.

Authorities were quick to respond to the call and closed several centres Tuesday, including a Chinese massage club and two restaurants which serve alcohol in Sana’a.

A Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa reporter saw police units raiding the three centres and forcing their workers out before they closed down the facilities. However, no arrests were made.

Muslim scholars and lawmakers have called on the country’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh to allow the establishing of an organisation for promoting virtue and combating vice to monitor practices that are seen as violations to religious morals.

Non-government organisations and rights activists, however, warned that such a body could by a copy of Saudi Arabia’s religious police who enforce moral standards based on strict interpretation of Islamic law.

Yemen’s population of 24 million is overwhelmingly Muslim and religiously observant.