A debate held this week between moderate religious experts and extremist inmates in Nouakchott's main prison aimed to "achieve civil peace".
By Mohamed Yahya Ould Abdel Wedoud for Magharebia in Nouakchott – 21/01/10
Mauritania broke new ground this week in its efforts to stem terrorism by organizing a religious debate between Islamic scholars and Salafist convicts in a Nouakchott prison.
Sheikh Mohamad Hassan Ould Daou led the panel of scholars that debated with the Salafists during a two-day event that began on Monday (January 18th). A recent Nouakchott conference on promoting tolerance spurred the debate, which targeted rehabilitating 68 imprisoned Salafists by challenging them to take more moderate stances.
"This meeting aims to outline the best ways to achieve civil peace in a country known for tolerance, openness and forgiveness," Minister of Islamic Affairs Ahmed Ould Nini announced at the start of the debate. He said he hoped the discussion would allow participants "to work our way out of a crisis that threatens national security".
The Salafist prisoners fell into two groups in preparation for the debate. One group, headed by Abdullah Ould Sidia, included 47 prisoners who supported talks with the government and wanted a fresh start in their dealings with authorities. The second group, which included 21 inmates, staunchly opposed such talks. Khadim Ould Semane, jailed since 2008 for the murder of a family of French tourists, led this contingent.
Panel member Mohamed Mokhtar Ould Ambala was optimistic about the outcome of the exchange.
"I think the debate will be in the best interests of all parties, which you will all see and rejoice in when the debate nears its end," Ambala told journalists on Monday.
Mauritanians are divided on whether open debate with Salafists will stop terrorism.
"The elements of this more radical second trend know that al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb requested their release in exchange for the Spanish hostages. They are not relying on dialogue to get out of prison; they rely on AQIM," Journal Tahalil quoted one observer as saying on Monday.
One civilian observer, Salem Ould Ahmed, told Magharebia that he is uncomfortable with the idea of engaging in dialogue with the Salafists, saying that the families of the terrorists' victims may not be prepared to forgive former attackers who want to turn over a new leaf.
"Such a debate is a blatant intervention in the work of the judiciary that had previously condemned all those jihadis on account of the crimes they perpetrated," he added.
Other Mauritanians embraced the government's alternative approach to eradicating home-grown terrorism.
"The government aspires to put an end to security tensions," said political analyst Mohamad Ali Ould Ebadi, who attended the prison debates."It may have realized that security measures alone are not sufficient to end that phenomenon. Also, ignoring the problem and keeping silent about it is not the answer either.
"The situation, therefore, called for dialogue."
Ebadi said that several prisoners who attended the debate seemed willing to re-evaluate their views.
"I personally attended the debate, and sensed how many convicts were eager to subject their thoughts to scrutiny," he said, adding: "I also saw anticipation among inmates' families and mothers, who truly wished to close that chapter forever."
Source: Magharebia.com.
Link: http://magharebia.com/en_GB/articles/awi/features/2010/01/21/feature-01.
By Mohamed Yahya Ould Abdel Wedoud for Magharebia in Nouakchott – 21/01/10
Mauritania broke new ground this week in its efforts to stem terrorism by organizing a religious debate between Islamic scholars and Salafist convicts in a Nouakchott prison.
Sheikh Mohamad Hassan Ould Daou led the panel of scholars that debated with the Salafists during a two-day event that began on Monday (January 18th). A recent Nouakchott conference on promoting tolerance spurred the debate, which targeted rehabilitating 68 imprisoned Salafists by challenging them to take more moderate stances.
"This meeting aims to outline the best ways to achieve civil peace in a country known for tolerance, openness and forgiveness," Minister of Islamic Affairs Ahmed Ould Nini announced at the start of the debate. He said he hoped the discussion would allow participants "to work our way out of a crisis that threatens national security".
The Salafist prisoners fell into two groups in preparation for the debate. One group, headed by Abdullah Ould Sidia, included 47 prisoners who supported talks with the government and wanted a fresh start in their dealings with authorities. The second group, which included 21 inmates, staunchly opposed such talks. Khadim Ould Semane, jailed since 2008 for the murder of a family of French tourists, led this contingent.
Panel member Mohamed Mokhtar Ould Ambala was optimistic about the outcome of the exchange.
"I think the debate will be in the best interests of all parties, which you will all see and rejoice in when the debate nears its end," Ambala told journalists on Monday.
Mauritanians are divided on whether open debate with Salafists will stop terrorism.
"The elements of this more radical second trend know that al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb requested their release in exchange for the Spanish hostages. They are not relying on dialogue to get out of prison; they rely on AQIM," Journal Tahalil quoted one observer as saying on Monday.
One civilian observer, Salem Ould Ahmed, told Magharebia that he is uncomfortable with the idea of engaging in dialogue with the Salafists, saying that the families of the terrorists' victims may not be prepared to forgive former attackers who want to turn over a new leaf.
"Such a debate is a blatant intervention in the work of the judiciary that had previously condemned all those jihadis on account of the crimes they perpetrated," he added.
Other Mauritanians embraced the government's alternative approach to eradicating home-grown terrorism.
"The government aspires to put an end to security tensions," said political analyst Mohamad Ali Ould Ebadi, who attended the prison debates."It may have realized that security measures alone are not sufficient to end that phenomenon. Also, ignoring the problem and keeping silent about it is not the answer either.
"The situation, therefore, called for dialogue."
Ebadi said that several prisoners who attended the debate seemed willing to re-evaluate their views.
"I personally attended the debate, and sensed how many convicts were eager to subject their thoughts to scrutiny," he said, adding: "I also saw anticipation among inmates' families and mothers, who truly wished to close that chapter forever."
Source: Magharebia.com.
Link: http://magharebia.com/en_GB/articles/awi/features/2010/01/21/feature-01.
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