Parliamentary human rights committee enforces its choice of chairperson [Archives:2006/1001/Front Page]

By:Nadia Al-Sakkaf
SANA'A, Nov. 22 ) For the first time, the Yemeni Parliament's Committee for Public Freedoms and Human Rights has elected its chairperson against the will of Parliament's presidency board.

In a press statement, seven members of Parliament from the 17-member committee declared their choice of independent MP Ali Abdurabu Al-Qadhi to head the committee and MP Abdulwahab Ali Muawadha of the General People's Congress as its rapporteur.

The MPs' declaration comes in response to Tuesday's dispute in Parliament over the human rights committee's leadership.

MP Mohammad Al-Shaef, a known businessman and tribal leader, previously headed the committee until Parliament's recent restructuring. Al-Shaef nominated himself to head the Development, Oil and Mineral Resources Committee but was denied, which led him to seek his former position as head of the human rights committee.

Deputy Parliament Speaker Yahya Al-Rai sought to pressure the committee by endorsing Al-Shaef, but committee members stood their ground. MP Ahmed Saif Hashed, who had struggled with authorities recently over human rights issues, complained to the Yemen Times that the human rights committee isn't actively playing its role as it should.

The signatories, including Hashed, stated that their rejection of Al-Shaef is a consequence of oppression the committee was experiencing, especially given that its previous rapporteur was Mohammad Rashad Al-Alimi, the Minister of Interior's son, which constituted a clear conflict of interest, in their opinion.
——
[archive-e:1001-v:14-y:2006-d:2006-11-23-p:front]