Hashid Tribe expresses allegiance to Sadeq Al-Ahmar as new leader [Archives:2008/1124/Local News]

Sadam Al_Ashmori
For Yemen Times
Amran, Jan 26 ) The Hashid tribe declared its support for Sheikh Sadeq Abdullah Bin Hussein Al-Ahmar to replace his father Sheikh Abdullah Bin Hussein Al-Ahmar, who died of cancer one month ago, as its leader. This came during a huge popular rally, attended by tens of thousands of citizens from Amran and other Yemeni governorates, at the late sheikh's house in Amran's Khamir district.

Yemen has three major tribes, Hashid, Bakeel and Madhaj, of which the Hashid tribe is the largest.

Rally participants raised slogans backing Sheikh Sadeq Al-Ahmar and confirming tribal loyalty to him in order for Yemen's tribal community to contribute greatly to national development.

At the rally, Sheikh Al-Ahmar, who is also a Shoura council member, announced that he will follow in his father's footsteps to help fight injustice against citizens, bring them together and reinforce Islamic law, or sharia.

Al-Ahmar promised to remain loyal to his tribesmen and exchange mutual trust and confidence with them. “Along with you, we will contribute to national development, stability and prosperity for the sake of helping our homeland advance more than it did before,” the tribal leader said, addressing his tribesmen at the rally. He called on all Yemeni tribes to quit revenge killings, highway robberies and wars that, according to him, create incurable crises, weaken the national economy and destroy development.

Al-Ahmar pointed out that unity among Hashid tribesmen is what helped make their tribe strong and free. “Our tribe's unity is the front valve for Yemeni unity,” he said. “We will work harder on reinforcing the sharia and enhancing noble human values.”

“By God, I and my brothers will follow in the footsteps of our father and demonstrate the same behavior and commitment for serving our tribesmen, and I am confident that you will support us,” the tribal sheikh went on to say. He called on Hashid tribesmen to come together and unify their lines like their fathers did in support of his father, as well as Sheikh Mujahid Abu Shawarib and other revolutionaries in the 1960s. The new Hashid tribe leader labeled fragmentation as 'a heavy loss', saying that a wolf can only attack isolated goats, and stressing the necessity of his tribesmen to come together. He told them that he will back the Palestinian cause, like his father.

Jubran Mujahid Abu Shawarib, son of late Sheikh Mujahid Abu Shawarib, gave a speech at the event, pledging allegiance to Sheikh Sadeq Al-Ahmar as leader for the Hashid Tribe. He reaffirmed his own tribe's loyalty to and support of the new sheikh.

Parliament member Abu Hourya recollected the achievements and positions of the late Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ahmar, saying he struggled hard for the sake of fostering the country's economy and enhancing its security.

The former Parliament Speaker and “Sheikh of Sheikhs of Yemen”, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Hussein al-Ahmar, passed away in King Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz hospital in Riyadh on December 29th, 2007, at age 74 after undergoing treatment for cancer and heart troubles in London and Riyadh.

Hundreds of thousands of Yemeni citizens from all parts of Yemen took part in his funeral, headed by President Ali Abdullah Saleh, Vice President Abdu Raboo Mansour Hadi, Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Mujawar and other officials, ministers, MPs, sheikhs, ambassadors, and social dignitaries on December 31, 2007, in Sana'a.
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