Religions advice to Yemeni Afghans [Archives:2002/36/Local News]

It is expected that a committee of leading religious scholars will start this week a dialogue with and present advice to Yemeni Afghans.
The government announced last week the formation of this committee to help those extremist young men get rid of their fanatic and hostile views. Members of this committee will try to convince those extremists that their views have nothing to do with the true Islamic faith. They will also hold meetings, deliver speeches and lectures, and conduct debates with these people mainly those who came back from Afghanistan after the defeat of the former USSR.
The aim is to erase the extremist views those young men acquired during their stay in Afghanistan.
President Saleh announced the formation of the committee last week. He said that there are many people in detention since the Cole bombing incident and September 11 attacks. He is also convinced that some are still at large. He called upon them to surrender to the government. He promised them not to be extradited to the U.S. or any other foreign country. He said, while inaugurating the sixth General Congress of his party PGC, some of the people who are still on the run their names were mentioned while interrogating suspects in the Guantanamo military base. He disclosed that his government carried out contacts with those fugitives via tribal shieks. He pointed out that these fugitives were asked to give in and disclose any information they might have and they will be safe.
The president said “if you are not proved guilty, we will not try you or extradite to the U.S”
He said some of these are gullible and have nothing to do with terrorist acts.

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