Two years after it was established, Yemen's National Dialogue is beginning to bear fruit. Peter Willems reports The Yemeni government recently released 113 detainees who allegedly belonged to the Al-Qaeda international terrorist network, said security officials last week. The suspects, including at least five who were accused of being involved in the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000, renounced their radical views after attending sessions with Yemen's Dialogue Committee. They were released over the second half of November after signing a commitment not to carry out terrorist or criminal acts in the future. According to Hamoud Al-Hitar, head of the Dialogue Committee, the detainees were not convicted of any crime, "they renounced completely their previous beliefs on violence and terrorism, and they showed their respect for the constitution. They also [agreed to] respect the rights of non-Muslims living in Yemen and the rights and interests of countries that have relationships with Yemen." Fifteen suspects convicted last August of being involved in the attack on the USS Cole at the port of Aden, which killed 17 US sailors, were not released. During the same month, five militants were also found guilty of participating in the bombing of a French oil tanker off the coast of Yemen in 2002 that killed one crew member and led to 90,000 barrels of oil being dumped into the Gulf of Aden. Since the Dialogue Committee was established in the fall of 2002, 346 suspects have been released. Up to 176 followers of Believing Youth, a renegade organisation founded by radical cleric Hussein Al-Houthi who was killed last September after three months of fighting between his followers and government forces in north Yemen, are expected to be released in the near future. Al-Hitar said that the committee has been successful in persuading the members of the organisation to renounce violence, but the Yemeni government is still following up on investigations in order to guarantee that no criminal acts have been committed. "The government is still concerned and needs to investigate further before the members of Believing Youth are released," said Al-Hitar. The members of Believing Youth who have renounced violence and are therefore expected to be released represent around half the 350 members of the organisation that are currently detained. Al-Hitar explains that the Dialogue Committee, which is made up of 20 members, bases its practice on peace, tolerance and the importance of people living together without conflict. "The committee's task is to demonstrate a moderate Islam that is based on peace and co-existence among people," said Al-Hitar. "In our dialogue, we point to the elements in the Holy Qur'an which emphasise peace and co-existence among people. Any time there is an argument with the detainees, we open the Holy Qur'an and show them what it says." Some have been concerned that some of the suspects may go back to their radical ideas after they are released. "It's very difficult to change one's beliefs through dialogue," said Abdullah Al- Faqih, professor of Political Science at Sanaa University. "It is not certain that a sympathiser or extremist, even is he has not carried out a crime, has changed his belief." Al-Hitar claims, however, that in addition to government monitoring of those who have been released, the Dialogue Committee is holding regular follow-up sessions to guide ex-detainees along their new path. "We continue to meet those that have been released and reinforce their new beliefs," said Al-Hitar. "We want to make sure that they stick to these new ideas and that they really believe in them." Al-Hitar said that the Dialogue Committee is also looking at developing a programme to help those released re-integrate into society. The programme will include assisting them to find jobs and offering guidance on how to readjust to life on the "outside". "We will help them become citizens and completely move away from their extremist views," said Al-Hitar. The Dialogue Committee's unique contribution to the war on terror runs parallel to the government's focus on increasing security nationwide. Since the government joined the United States in the fight against terror after the attacks of 11 September 2001, Yemeni security forces have rounded up hundreds of terrorist suspects, including key members of Al-Qaeda. Last month, the government announced that thanks to its efforts there are now no Al-Qaeda cells left in the country. Other countries are showing an interest in the Dialogue Committee's approach. Al- Hitar said governments in other parts of the world have contacted him to learn about the committee's methods for convincing suspects to turn their backs on violence. Last spring, Al-Hitar travelled to England to share his methods of dialogue with the British Foreign Office. Al-Hitar was also invited to attend the conference of the Higher Council for Islamic Affairs in Cairo.
