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Elections may not send qualified members to Shoura, says Naseef

April 27, 2012

Omar


Riyadh,April 27: Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef, former deputy chairman of the Shoura Council, has supported the present system of appointing qualified members to the Saudi consultative body.

“Shoura is an important system and it needs people of experience and wisdom to run the show. I think people who call for elections have not taken this important point into consideration,” he said.

In an exclusive interview with Arab News at his office in Jeddah, Naseef said the Shoura Council is equal to any parliament in the world. "Our Shoura members are highly qualified academics and technocrats and the Shoura decisions are based on the Qur'an and Sunnah. This makes our Shoura Council different from other parliaments," he pointed out.

Dr. Naseef described Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah as a charismatic leader who is loved not only by Saudis but also by foreigners.

Following is the full text of the interview:

Arab News: You have been on the Shoura Council as its deputy chairman for eight years. What are the special features of the Saudi Shoura system?

Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef: The Saudi Shoura Council works exactly like a Parliament. Technically there is no difference. It plays a big role in drafting the Kingdom's rules and laws as well as international and bilateral treaties. The only difference between the Shoura Council and parliaments in other countries is that there are no political blocs and the members are not elected by the public. In an Islamic system, Shoura members can be either appointed or elected. Our government has adopted the first option and it appoints qualified people specialized in various fields such as economics, political science, education, health and Islamic jurisprudence to the council. They pick the cream of society who represents all tribes and regions of the Kingdom. The Shoura members consider the Holy Qur'an and Hadith as the basis of their discussions. Islamic jurists should verify all laws and international treaties before being passed by the Shoura. There are experts in the Shoura who make sure such laws and treaties do not violate Islamic teachings and thus Islam reigns supreme. If they find any law or regulation that contradicts Islamic teachings it will be removed or modified. The working of Shoura is very systematic and its output is of high quality thanks to the efforts of its well-qualified members. Parliamentarians from other countries who have attended the council's sessions have pointed out that there is not much difference between the two systems.

Arab News: How successful has the Shoura been in addressing the problems and issues of Saudi people?

Naseef: The Shoura has adopted many resolutions and passed several regulations aimed at enhancing the progress and prosperity of Saudi people. It takes care of the interests of people and protects their rights. It is doing a lot of things for the people and I cannot explain them all here. The new laws and regulations it has passed will indirectly serve the interests of the people.

Arab News: What are the areas where the Shoura requires improvement?

Naseef: The Shoura Council is doing very well. But every human work needs improvement. There were calls for elections and I am sure it will take place sooner or later either to pick all members or at least half of them. But election is not a must. Shoura is an important system and it needs people of experience and wisdom to run the show. I think people who call for elections have not taken this important point into consideration. I can tell you in light of my long experience in the Shoura that it is functioning very well and it takes sound decisions on the basis of the Qur'an and Sunnah. We don't have any difficulty like other countries who follow secular ideologies and give priority to people's wishes without considering whether they go against religious teachings and values or not.

Arab News: You have been associated with King Abdul Aziz Dialogue Center. What are its activities, and how successful has it been in spreading a culture of dialogue among the Saudis?

Naseef: The center was established to promote a culture of dialogue among Saudis. Dialogue was lacking because of the tribal nature of society. The Qur'an and Hadith have encouraged Muslims to hold dialogue and exchange ideas with others. It is an important teaching of Islam but people have forgotten it with the passage of time. The center has held so many meetings in various parts of the country and trained more than a million young men and women on how to hold dialogue. The results were quite encouraging. Now we can see dialogue in every family. Previously brothers and sisters were not talking or exchanging ideas. Dialogue has now become the real culture of Saudi society including students, university professors and religious leaders. We have noticed this change. Until now we have not started dialogue with the Shiites. However, we make sure their representatives attend our meetings and express their opinions on various issues. We also take into account their views while making decisions.

Arab News: King Abdullah's interfaith dialogue initiative has won international acclaim. What must be done to make it effective and fruitful?

Naseef: We have been ordered by God to interact with non-Muslims, especially the People of the Books — the Jews and the Christians. The followers of different faiths should work together to address major global problems such as crime and drug abuse as well as to promote world peace. We should also take the opportunity to highlight the nobility of Islam, its tolerance and its directives to protect the rights of non-Muslims. King Abdullah has often said that religions could play a big role in promoting world peace. The King Abdullah Dialogue Center in Austria will conduct research work, organize conferences and seminars and implement the resolutions of past interfaith dialogue forums.

Arab News: Muslims have become fragmented and are fighting each other. Do you believe that there is a need for intra-faith dialogue to strengthen Muslim unity?

Naseef: Dialogue between various Muslim groups is very essential to settle their differences and achieve unity. We have tried to tackle this issue but it needs more work. It is very unfortunate to see Muslims differ on minor issues. Islam has given utmost importance to Muslim unity and taught them to respect one another. I hope the King Abdullah Center for Dialogue (in Austria) will take up this issue seriously and promote good relations among Muslims.

Arab News: You have met King Abdullah at his palace several times. What is your impression about his great personality and what are the main concerns he expressed in those meetings?

Naseef: King Abdullah is a great personality. He is very sincere and straightforward. He expresses ideas spontaneously and speaks quite frankly. The education and welfare of Saudis and world peace are his main concerns. He has sent about 100,000 young Saudi men and women on scholarships to foreign universities to pursue higher education. He opened universities in different parts of the Kingdom and there are now 24 government universities that will produce leaders of the future. He insisted that Saudi scholarship students go to universities in different countries such as Japan, China, India, the US, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea and come back with their distinct experiences, know-how and expertise to develop the country. King Abdullah is a charismatic leader who is liked by everybody. All Saudis, especially, young people, like him very much. A number of Jews and Christians have told us that the king has charisma. Allah has blessed him with that quality. The king has been playing a big role for the empowerment of women in the Kingdom. He gave women the right to become members of the Shoura Council and take part in municipal elections.

Arab News: You have worked for more than 10 years as secretary-general of the Makkah-based Muslim World League (Rabita). What are the MWL's contributions toward strengthening Muslim unity?

Naseef: The MWL is a well-established international organization with activities in 120 countries. It works to promote education, revive the message of mosques, teach the Qur'an and help the needy. It has been making a lot of efforts to maintain unity among Muslims who fight each other over silly matters. The MWL does its best to reconcile Muslim factions, settle their conflicts and select the best among them to manage their affairs. It also conducts training programs to develop their capabilities to run their affairs effectively. Most Muslim communities lack efficient managers and capable leaders. It also provides food, health care, education and shelter to poor Muslims. When I was in Rabita I had tried my best to strengthen its capabilities and improve its performance. We also established the International Islamic Relief Organization to take care of Muslim refugees.

Arab News: You have worked as president of King Abdulaziz University. How do you see KAU's fast progress as a leading university in the Kingdom?

Naseef: King Abdul Aziz University has proved to be one of the important universities in the Kingdom through its research programs and community services. It also organizes international conferences on various topics such as Islamic banking and finance, education and science. It has contributed immensely to the Kingdom's scientific and technological advancement. It also invites prominent professors from different universities. At one time we had such professors from 40 countries. In the past about 15 percent of its students were non-Saudi and it encouraged Saudis to compete with others to improve their academic level. The KAU has stopped this system because of the increasing number of Saudi students. I think the system should be reintroduced giving at least 5 percent of seats to students from Muslim countries to strengthen the Ummah. This is because when these students go back to their countries they may become ministers and ambassadors and serve their communities.

Arab News: You are involved in various Islamic activities around the world. Do you see any signs of an Islamic renaissance?

Naseef: Islamic renaissance is a reality and it is much more evident now than before. In every country Muslims are proud of their religion and they want to improve their situation and make contributions to science and technology. There is at least a will for self-development. This is a good indication. I am quite optimistic that the situation of Muslims will change for the better, although it will take place slowly. Muslims face a lot of economic, social and developmental problems but people expect things to change abruptly. Actually it requires generations. Progress needs hard work and patience. Our main problem is we lack excellence. We don't do things perfectly. From day one Islam is a religion of excellence. Allah loves those who do things in an excellent manner. This is the area where we have to make a lot of improvement.

Arab News: There are people who look at the Arab Spring with suspicion. How do you see it?

Naseef: I believe it is a divine phenomenon. Allah wanted to introduce real change for the better with the support of modern social media. People wanted qualitative change in all fields of lives, replacing dictatorships and secular regimes. But it will take time. They have to establish democratic systems, provide freedom and equal opportunities to all citizens. Muslim countries have reached a stage that they cannot live without foreign financial aid. This is a very serious issue. We have to work hard and develop our own resources to get rid of dependence on foreign aid, which is one of the reasons for the slow progress of Muslim countries. We should also make use of the natural resources in our countries.

Arab News: Being the president of the International Islamic Union of Scouts, what advice can you give to youths?

Naseef: We have to convince our young people they have to work hard to improve the situation of the Ummah. The Islamic nation pins great hope on their youths. Scouting is one way to develop this awareness and develop the talents of young people to serve the community and manage themselves and their societies. It is the practical way to train people and make use of their synergy. We train young people to take decisions and work for community development. We evaluate their decisions and improve on them.

Arab News: You have been engaged in various philanthropic activities. What is the importance of charity in Islam? How can we improve the economic condition of Muslims through the Zakat system?

Naseef: Islam encourages charitable work. In the past, charity was the main source of income for various development projects, even for preparing an army. People used to make endowments to establish hospitals, schools and mosques. When the endowment system (wakf) died it became the responsibility of governments. We have to restore the role of charity and wakf in our Muslim societies. If we implement endowment and zakat through its proper channels it can work wonders in our societies. The revival of charity and wakf is essential for the development of our countries and communities.


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News Network
April 5,2020

Beirut, Apr 5: The novel coronavirus has put global trade on hold, placed half of the world population in confinement and has the potential to topple governments and reshape diplomatic relations.

The United Nations has appealed for ceasefires in all the major conflicts rocking the planet, with its chief Antonio Guterres on Friday warning "the worst is yet to come". But it remains unclear what the pandemic's impact will be on the multiple wars roiling the Middle East.

Here is an overview of the impact so far on the conflicts in Syria, Yemen, Libya and Iraq:

The COVID-19 outbreak turned into a pandemic just as a ceasefire reached by the two main foreign power brokers in Syria's nine-year-old war -- Russia and Turkey -- was taking effect.

The three million people living in the ceasefire zone, in the country's northwestern region of Idlib, had little hope the deal would hold.

Yet fears the coronavirus could spread like wildfire across the devastated country appear to have given the truce an extended lease of life.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the month of March saw the lowest civilian death toll since the conflict started in 2011, with 103 deaths.

The ability of the multiple administrations in Syria -- the Damascus government, the autonomous Kurdish administration in the northeast and the jihadist-led alliance that runs Idlib -- to manage the coronavirus threat is key to their credibility.

"This epidemic is a way for Damascus to show that the Syrian state is efficient and all territories should be returned under its governance," analyst Fabrice Balanche said.

However the pandemic and the global mobilisation it requires could precipitate the departure of US-led troops from Syria and neighbouring Iraq.

This in turn could create a vacuum in which the Islamic State jihadist group, still reeling from the demise of its "caliphate" a year ago, could seek to step up its attacks.

The Yemeni government and the Huthi rebels initially responded positively to the UN appeal for a ceasefire, as did neighbouring Saudi Arabia, which leads a military coalition in support of the government.

That rare glimmer of hope in the five-year-old conflict was short-lived however and last week Saudi air defences intercepted ballistic missiles over Riyadh and a border city fired by the Iran-backed rebels.

The Saudi-led coalition retaliated by striking Huthi targets in the rebel-held capital Sanaa on Monday.

Talks have repeatedly faltered but the UN envoy Martin Griffiths is holding daily consultations in a bid to clinch a nationwide ceasefire.

More flare-ups in Yemen could compound a humanitarian crisis often described as the worst in the world and invite a coronavirus outbreak of catastrophic proportions.

In a country where the health infrastructure has collapsed, where water is a rare commodity and where 24 million people require humanitarian assistance, the population fears being wiped out if a ceasefire doesn't allow for adequate aid.

"People will end up dying on the streets, bodies will be rotting in the open," said Mohammed Omar, a taxi driver in the Red Sea port city of Hodeida.

Much like Yemen, the main protagonists in the Libyan conflict initially welcomed the UN ceasefire call but swiftly resumed hostilities.

Fierce fighting has rocked the south of the capital Tripoli in recent days, suggesting the risk of a major coronavirus outbreak is not enough to make guns fall silent.

Turkey has recently played a key role in the conflict, throwing its weight behind the UN-recognised Government of National Accord.

Fabrice Balanche predicted that accelerated Western disengagement from Middle East conflicts could limit Turkish support to the GNA.

That could eventually favour forces loyal to eastern-based strongman Khalifa Haftar, who launched an assault on Tripoli one year ago and has the backing of Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

Western countries have been hit hardest by the pandemic, which could prompt them to divert both military resources and peace-brokering capacity from foreign conflicts.

A report by the International Crisis Group said European officials had reported that efforts to secure a ceasefire in Libya were no longer receiving high-level attention due to the pandemic.

Iraq is no longer gripped by fully-fledged conflict but it remains vulnerable to an IS resurgence in some regions and its two main foreign backers are at each other's throats.

Iran and the United States are two of the countries most affected by the coronavirus but there has been no sign of any let-up in their battle for influence that has largely played out on Iraqi soil.

With most non-US troops in the coalition now gone and some bases evacuated, American personnel are now regrouped in a handful of locations in Iraq.

Washington has deployed Patriot air defence missiles, prompting fears of a fresh escalation with Tehran, whose proxies it blames for a spate of rocket attacks on bases housing US troops.

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KT
April 13,2020

Dubai, Apr 13: The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) on Monday announced 172 new recoveries in the country, taking the total recoveries to 852 cases.

"With today's 172 cases, the total number of fully recovered Covid-19 patients has become 852, while three residents of different nationalities were declared dead, taking the total number of deaths to 25," Dr Farida Al Hosani, spokeswoman for the ministry, said.

"We have also carried out up to 23,380 new tests on Monday all over the country."

Also read: UAE residency, visit visas valid until end-2020

Dr Hosani said His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has launched the national home-based testing programme for determined people, be they nationals or residents.

"The program, targeting this important segment of the society who have difficulty doing tests outdoors, is part of the national drive-through testing national program."

Addressing some baseless rumours that are viral on social media, Dr Al Hosani confirmed that no one can fix a date for the peak of infected cases.

"So many studies have affirmed that physical distancing is so critical in reducing not only the number of Cobid-19 new cases but also the infection curve."

Dr Al Hosani advised the public to wear gloves whenever they go out. "However, do not touch your personal stuff when wearing gloves, particularly when using your phone, and safely dispose of them."

It is still so critical to clean your hands with water and soap on a regular basis, she underlined. "Cleaning and washing our hands are much better and safer than wearing gloves."

Wearing one-time disposable surgical gloves is highly advisable, she said. "If not available, hand-made cloth masks can be used but need to be cleaned regularly with water and soap."

Masks should be worn properly covering the nose, mouth and the chin, she pointed out. "Do not touch the internal or external parts of the face masks, while the blue colour side must be always outward."

Priority in drive-through tests are given for those with respiratory issues, senior people, and pregnant women, she said in answer to a question raised by media people.

"If you are developing no Covid-19 infection symptoms and just wish to make sure you are sound, you need to book an appointment, be aware that it will cost you Dh370."

"If developing minor symptoms, the public is urged to stay home and call any of these toll-free numbers for help: (800011111), (8001717), (800342)."

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News Network
May 7,2020

Dubai, May 7: Saudi Arabia will emerge as the victor of the oil price war that sent global crude markets into a spin last month, according to two experts in the energy industry.

Jason Bordoff, professor and founding director of the Center for Global Energy policy at New York’s Columbia University, said: “While 2020 will be remembered as a year of carnage for oil nations, at least one will most likely emerge from the pandemic stronger, both economically and geopolitically: Saudi Arabia.”

Writing in the American publication Foreign Policy, Bordoff said that the Kingdom’s finances can weather the storm from lower oil prices as a result of the drastically reduced demand for oil in economies under pandemic lockdowns, and that it will end up with higher oil revenues and a bigger share of the global market once it stabilizes.

Bordoff’s view was reinforced by Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, former chairman of Royal Dutch Shell and one of the longest-standing directors of Saudi Aramco. In an interview with the Gulf Intelligence energy consultancy, he said that low-cost oil producers such as Saudi Arabia would emerge from the pandemic with increased market share.

“Oil is the only commodity where the lowest-cost producers have contained their production and allowed high-cost producers to benefit. When demand recovers this year or next, we will emerge from it with the lowest-cost producers having increased their market share,” Moody-Stuart said.

Bordfoff said that it would take years for the high-cost American shale industry to recover to pre-pandemic levels of output. “Depending on how long oil demand remains depressed, US oil production is projected to decline from its pre-coronavirus peak of around 13 million barrels per day.

“Shale's heady growth in recent years (with production growing by about 1 million to 1.5 million barrels per day each year) also reflected irrational exuberance in financial markets. Many US companies struggling with uneconomical production only managed to stay afloat with infusions of cheap debt. One quarter of US shale oil production may have been uneconomic even before prices crashed,” he said.

Moody-Stuart said that recent statements about cuts to the Saudi Arabian budget as a result of falling oil revenues were “an important step to wean the population of the Kingdom off an entitlement feeling. It means that everybody is joining in it.”

The former Shell boss said that other big oil companies would follow Shell’s recent decision to cut its dividend for the first time in more than 70 years. But he added that Aramco would stick by its commitment to pay $75 billion of dividends this year.

“When a company looks at its forecasts it looks ahead for one year, so for this year it (the dividend) is fine,” he said.

Bordoff added that Saudi Arabia’s action in cutting oil production in response to the pandemic would improve its global position.

“Saudi Arabia has improved its standing in Washington. Following intense pressure from the White House and powerful senators, the Kingdom’s willingness to oblige by cutting production will reverse some of the damage done when it was blamed for the oil crash after it surged production in March,” he said.

“Only a few weeks ago, the outlook for Saudi Arabia seemed bleak. But looking out a few years, it’s difficult to see the Kingdom in anything other than a strengthened position,” Bordoff said.

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