Somalia: Islamic scholars issue Declaration on Puntland election 2014
Garowe, Dec. 28, 2013 (SDN) – Islamic scholars in Puntland state of northern Somalia have issued a 21-point declaration on the upcoming Puntland elections 2014, urging piety, peace and progress, Garowe Online reports.
The next Puntland presidential election is slated for January 8, 2014, after the ongoing process to establish the new Parliament is completed and the 66 MPs vote for Puntland’s next leaders, among some 23 candidates competing for President and Vice President of Puntland.
The declaration was signed on Friday by 15 Somali Islamic scholars at the conclusion of a five-day religious seminar (Nadwo) at Haji Ali Mosque in Garowe, the capital of Puntland, between Dec. 24-27, 2013.
To the public
The declaration noted that the lecture program was designed to “guide the public towards right path”, to “remind everyone of Islamic brotherhood”, and to “inform any person who wants public office about duty and trust” granted to public office holders by the Puntland people.
The December 27 declaration urged the Somali public towards “piety, forgiveness and unity”, while citing the people’s “collective action” as the only way to success, as witnessed during humanitarian relief efforts after the tropical cyclone and floods that hit parts of Puntland State and Middle Shabelle Region, respectively, in November 2013.
To the presidential candidates
The Islamic scholars’ declaration urged the Puntland presidential candidates to engage in political campaigns “with responsibility” and to showcase “political objective to attract public confidence”.
Reminding the candidates that “Puntland is your home and the people is your people”, the declaration noted that the candidates “should seek public interest, not personal interest” and urging the candidates’ supporters to “avoid incitement, internal squabbles, and creating divisions among the people for political objectives”.
Continuing, the declaration stated: “The value of the [Puntland] election is not conflict, bribery and fraud, but the election’s value is public confidence”.
The declaration also urged the candidates to “avoid propaganda and character assassination” against fellow candidates, while warning that the candidates should “uphold previous agreements, policies and legislations of Puntland that do not contradict Islamic religion”.
The Islamic scholars’ statement said: “We warn all candidates to avoid any issue that threatens the security and stability of Puntland, and to respect and adhere to any candidate who wins the election”.
The declaration also called on the candidates to “avoid making false promises or promises that are not possible” while urging that all candidates “must respect and adhere to the election vote outcome”.
To the Puntland Tilted Elders
Addressing the Titled Elders (Issimo), the Islamic scholars’ declaration said that the “Issimo are recognized in Puntland as an authority, have contributed to its [Puntland] stability, and we [scholars] urge the Issimo to uphold those positive values and to become a part of the solution”.
The declaration also called on the Issimo to “strengthen their unity, to avoid any issue that harms their unity, and to avoid any indication of internal quarrels” at all times.
To New Puntland MPs and Vetting Committee
The declaration urged the new Members of Parliament to “uphold the people’s trust that they swore on the Name of Allah”, while calling on the new MPs to “place public interest above personal interest” and to “elect the new leader [of Puntland] who can protect our interest, religion, people, and state”.
The declaration reminded the Puntland Vetting Committee – charged with verifying new MPs with constitutional criteria and relevant documents – of their “national duty” and urging the Committee “to undertake their work with goodness”, as the public entrusted them “to resolve issues, not create problems”.
Finally, the declaration also called on the next election leaders of Puntland Government “to rule with justice, to protect the [Islamic] religion, and the interest of the people and the state, and to work towards bringing together and creating brotherhood among the Somali people, wherever they may be”.
The religious seminar at Haji Ali Mosque in Garowe was hosted by Al-Minhaj Islamic organization and the declaration was signed by 15 Islamic scholars, among the most prominent Islamic scholars in the whole of Somalia. Al-Minhaj promotes good Islamic values, socio-economic development, and preaches against extremism and terrorism.
It is the second major religious seminar to be held in Garowe. The first seminar was held in July 2012, with Islamic scholars condemning terrorism and discouraging Puntland youth from joining criminal groups, including terrorists and pirates.
In April 2010, the first Somali National Islamic Conference was held in Garowe and issued a public declaration condemning religious extremist groups who use terrorism to achieve political goals.
Puntland State, which declared autonomy in a federated Somalia in 1998, is a stable territory with an adopted state constitution, laws, security forces, and has held presidential elections in 1998, 2005 and 2009.
Source: GAROWE ONLINE