Sahel’s League of Scholars and Preachers established in Algeria

A group of scholars from five countries i the Sahel region Tuesday announced the creation of Sahel’s League of Scholars ad Preachers in presence of imams and preachers from Algeria, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritania.

The league’s structure is expected to be announced on Wednesday. Its President, Secretary General and members of executive office will be elected.

A number of lectures were organized entitled ‘religious extremism in the Sahel between causes and solutions.’

Algeria scholars and imams attended the opening session. Of them, there were Cheikh Taher Aldjat, Cheikh Mohand Cherif Kaher, Cheikh Abu Abdessalam and Doctor Said Chibane. The Algerian delegation’s representative Cheikh Youcef Mechria stressed the necessity of facing “extremism and exaggeration,” saying Islam urges for charity, good acts and forgiveness.

He added that the League should accomplish its job in guiding people and facing extremist trends.

Cheikh Abu Said Belaid El Djazairi talked about Algeria’s role in peace and reconciliation. He cited scholars’ role in convincing misled people during the black decade in the country.

He believes that scholars can play a role in pushing toward peace, stability and reconciliation.

He also said extremism phenomenon in the Sahel region was due to unsolved problems and absence of coordination between countries. Bad social conditions, unemployment and poverty push young people to adopt extremist religious ideas.

“This extremism caused troubles to us and pressures from foreign nations in the name of the fight against extremism,” he added.

“It is necessary to unify efforts and cooperate in order to stand against this problem. This can be done by opening door to preachers and scholars to call for moderation and rejecting exaggeration, extremism and violence.”

The session chairman Cheikh Daoud Bourima from Niger highlighted the importance of the League’s creation in current circumstances. It enables to exchange points of view, coordinate religious actions and decide in interesting cases to Muslims in the Sahel region.

“Actually, we are living a reality full of multiform conflicts which touched all the human society levels. The world used may means to prevent humanity of happiness,” he said.