Al Wefaq National Islamic Society is to join parliamentary elections later this year, reports Mohammed Al A’ali
Al Wefaq’s 30-member Shura body has voted in favour of an earlier decision taken by its general-secretariat two weeks ago to participate in the elections.
The decision was taken yesterday in an extraordinary meeting with 20 members voting to join as opposed by five members who stressed that taking a decision on such an issue was too early, said Shura secretary Hamed Khalaf.
Five members did not attend the meeting.
“We have taken the decision based on studies presented to us by the general-secretariat, with reasons behind the end of the boycott and the decision to join,” he said.
“Taking part in the elections doesn’t mean that the legislative body or constituencies are perfect. It comes from our belief that political participation would help us gain power to reach the demands of the people to those in power.”
GDN :: Mohammed Al-A’ali :: 2 May ’06
Finally. We might get some new faces with a few brain-cells in their heads to get this country back on track again. I hope that whoever is backed by Al-Wefaq to stand for elections won’t be just those with turbans, as Al-Wefaq needs to understand that to solve this current age’s problems do not lie in further adherence to religion and most certainly won’t be solved by going sectarian.
Al-Wefaq needs to field businessmen, economists and other professional persons who can enrich the parliament and fight the fights that need to be chosen carefully: amendments to the constitution, amendments to the constituencies’ borders, health and services and of course find ways to broaden the middle-income layers in the society.
For goodness’ sake stay away from religious issues and remember above all that the parliament is not a maatem or mosque and it’s not a place to preach religion or let religion blind you from responding to current problems which should be solved with current models.
