“Association of Sahel Scholars and Imams” to save the region from war

A group of scientists and religious leaders from five countries in the Sahel, announced on Wednesday the birth of the Association of Scientists, Imams, Sheikhs and preachers in the Sahel countries to establish peace and security in the region, as the initiative came as a culmination of the appeal that was launched by the same group a few days ago, from the holy sites, calling gunmen of terrorist organizations, that are active in the North of Mali desert Sahel, to repent and to lay down arms and spare the region from lawlessness and chaos.

Chieftains from Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Nigeria, met on Wednesday at the invitation of their Algerian counterparts – at a meeting that was attended by “Echorouk” – to launch an initiative, which is the first of its kind, in order to dry the armed action in the Sahel region, a few days after their meeting in the holy sites, on the sidelines of their pilgrimage, where they talked about the security situation in the Sahel, and what was dragged from the stability, fighting, bloodshed and kidnapping.

From the holy sites to Algeria

“Group of Eight” read the text of the initiative, which announced the birth of the “Association of scholars and imams,” which they considered a first practical and field step, to collect the largest number of scholars, imams and sheikhs and clerics, in order to contribute to the reunification and peace, peace and mediation in the Sahel region, and miss the opportunity to enemies of Islam and Muslims who are waiting for such an opportunity.

The group, which contains scholars and clerics from Mali, Algeria and Mauritania, Niger and Nigeria, said it agreed to spread the teachings of religion and the principles of peace, and forbidding what is wrong, and the fight against falsehood, and in return it called for the establishment of security and harmony, which is included in Islam, as a religion of tolerance and affection.

The group of eight called upon their fellows, including scholars, sheikhs, imams and preachers, in all the countries of the Sahel, to join the association and sealing their ranks and expand recriuts, in order to bring peace and fight militancy, strife and extremism.

Welcome to people who contribute to peace

A member of the Association of Muslim Scholars said that Algeria’s experience in this area, thus contributing to push for peace and stability, harmony and intellectual insurance from delinquency, and hyperbole.

In response to a question regarding the possibility of the involvement of some “repentant militants”, in an initiative to persuade militants who are active in the Sahel and Sahara, said Sheikh Kasel; “Those become, in accordance with the laws in force, ordinary citizens, so that they can participate in these moves to peace”.

Muharram 1st to condemn terrorist crimes

The initiative to establishe the “Association of Scholars, advocates and imams of the Sahel”, came on the eve of the first Muharram of the new Hijri year, because of the messages that read the language of wisdom and reason, peace and security, knowing that the first who signed the appeal or the second statement arerenowned for their neutrality, respect and moderation, and all of them are adherents to the Maliki, as they focused, during the “Statement of Mecca”, on worsening humanitarian situation in northern Mali, and its serious implications in the short and long term for the entire region, warning the Sahel militants, from exploiting the “false Jihad” stemming from the ignorance of religion, to commit crimes and sins against the innocent Muslims and non-Muslims, which is inconsistent with the teachings of Islam, which calls for tolerance, peace and coexistence between the various religions.