Imam Democracy Training Program Launches in Sanaa

“Imams and preachers impact people’s beliefs, as they communicate with them on a daily basis and through weekly Friday sermons”, said Mr. Shawqi Al Qadi, Director of the National Organization for Developing Society (NODS), after the November 22 inauguration of a new series of workshops in Sanaa to train Yemeni imams and women preachers on democracy and human rights.  NODS implemented a similar project last year in Taez.

The series of Sanaa workshops, conducted with support from the Local Grants program of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), will educate community religious leaders on the rule of law, political participation, the role of civil society, women’s rights, and human rights.  The workshops’ unique combination of research and facilitated group discussions, augmented with instruction to improve English and Information Technology skills, has proved popular with participants.  Seventy-one imams, preachers and MPs attended the program’s inauguration ceremony, joined by the Minister of Awfaq and Guidance, the Minister of Human Rights Issues, and the Minister of Social Affairs.  Mr. Al Qadi noted that the number of interested participants far exceeds the 25 seats allocated for this training.

Similar to the outcomes of last year’s program in Taez, Al Qadi expects that these Sanaa imams and preachers will integrate the democracy and human rights concepts they will learn over the course of the next year into their daily and weekly preaching.  According to Mr. Al Qadi, Taez imams and women preachers who completed the training last year started discussing the rule of law, women’s rights, and human rights in their Friday sermons.  “These concepts were never preached before,” he added.

The launch of the program was covered by the Yemeni local press Al Sahwa, Al Shoura, Al Gumhuryah, Al Seyassah, and Al Share.