Press Review [Archives:1999/42/Press Review]

Al-Usbooa’, independent, weekly:
1)A Fatwa on Dr. RaÕoofa halted:
A previous leader of the Yemeni Islah Party reports that what he calls Ôthe enlightenedÕ inside the party have succeeded to convince their more adamant brethren to halt issuing a Fatwa on Dr. RaÕoofa Hassan, Director of the Feminine Studies Center, declaring her and another Moroccan researcher, Mr. Abdul MuÕti Al-Dayalmi as ÔkafirsÕ. The Fatwa was to be issued because of some opinions that were expressed by Mr. Al-Dayalmi during a symposium organized by the center recently. Our source said that a lot of efforts were made to convince the most unyielding elements into refraining from issuing the Fatwa so that they are not called extremists or terrorists. They were convinced that it is better to take Dr. RaÕoofa to a court of law.   A number of Imams of mosques who are considered very near to the Islah have condemned in their speeches the Center and the call made by Al-Dayalmi to open the gates for rethinking some issues in Islam.
While Dr. Ra’oofa is abroad in a “study” leave that shall continue for five years, Dr. Khadija Al-Haisame was nominated a provisional leader for the Center by Sana’a University. Huge pressures are exerted at Sana’a University by the Ikhwan members of the PGC to dismiss the Center completely or merge it with the Faculty of Arts.
2)Al-Beedh one of the most Influential Personalities:
Mr. Ali Salem Al-Beedh, the former Deputy President of the Republic of Yemen was among the ten most influential personalities in the history of the Yemen in a survey organized by the Center for Future Studies.
A number of intellectuals and university professors took part in the survey, and selected Al-Beedh as one of the most influential personalities. He was also considered the real creator of the Unity of Yemen and the later secession attempt.
President Saleh was also selected one of the most influential personalities who could through his reign for more than 21 years achieve the Unity of Yemen and to keep it intact in the face of the secession attempt. He made available a democratic system during his reign.
Former President Ibrahim Al-Hamdi was also selected as the builder of modern Yemen; while Imam Yahya was selected as the liberator of Yemen.
Among those selected were five who ruled Yemen in addition to Ali Abdul Mughni ( the real maker of the 26th. September Revolution) and Rajeh Labuzah (symbol of 14th October Revolution) and the leaders of the 1948 Movement.
The list included also three individuals who played an establishing role in political and partisan movements that influenced Yemeni history. They are Faisal Al-Sha’abi, who began the Pan-Arab Nationalist Movement, Abdo Mohammed Al-Mikhlafi who established the Islamic Movement known as The Muslim Brothers, and the third is Mohammed Ali Al-Gifri who established the League of the Sons of the South.
Al-Noa’man and Al-Zubairi , both cultural personalities , were selected for expressing the conscience of Yemen. The only personality which was selected for its role in developing industry and economy is the late businessman Mr. Hayel Saeed Ana’am.

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