The session has just started. Please feel free to join us with your questions.
After the session has ended, you can view the whole dialogue by clicking Recent Sessions, or the archive.
Name
Abdul Hadi
- Nigeria
Profession
chemist
Question
the down fall of the islamist in somalia is not a surprise to many of us because the world islamic nations are not doing the homework, the fact that ethopian were openly inspired by the US to fight a proxy war against the peacefull islamic court which brought peace and stability for the past six month,the US and UN cananot see the disgrace what they were unable to do. what is the role of OIC in conflict resolution taking into consideration that the somalian are 90% muslim why didt the OIC supported them in road to peace?
Answer
Provided I got the question right, the Islamic Courts were already in the process of the conflicted resolution, hardly reconciling the Somali clans who have been rival to each other for the past sixteen years.
Regarding this, the OIC made a substantial success and they have gained the hearts and the minds of the Somalis particularly those who were in dire need of peace and security.
The downfall of the Islamic Courts was somehow a surprise to many and at least even to those who thought such a thing might not happen. The quick retreat was a surprise. I can attribute it to the military and the political miscalculations made by some members of the OIC and the large involvement of the wester-backed individuals in the OIC structure. They were some double-crossers in the OIC who were providing intelligence and other military information leakage to the their enemies.
Name
Always Jolly
-
Profession
Question
Salams, How much 'Islam' was there in these Islamic courts? I mean, if you personally had a case that needed to be heard and dealt with, would you have full confidence in the ability of these Islamic courts to rule with wisdom, justice, and the true spirit of Islam?
Answer
Well, many Somalis did and I don't blame them for that. The Islamic Courts Union were leading the Somali peopl's upraising against the years of anarchy and lawlessness in Somalia and the oppression of the warlord who divided the country into small fire fields under their control.
The Islamic Courts Union top leadership, I can say they were genuine Somali citizens with good faith and ambitious leadership to lead Somalia into prosperity and justice and I think they have done enough for the very short period of their existence.
But not all of the Islamic Courts Union members had the same goal, some had differing objectives and each of them was pursuing his goal. I can attribute much of this to the reason of their collapse.
Some wanted to govern Somali unity for the first time, some wanted to govern the southern and the central parts of Somali first and then bring the other regional states on board and some wanted even to go beyond that and wanted to pass to the neighbouring countries.
Name
menem
- Egypt
Profession
Question
why US supports Ethipia to hit the islamic courts mean while it is US that call for fighting terrorism?
Answer
Well historically, US was always an ally of Ethiopia when it comes to the Horn of Africa. If one questions why US supports Ethiopia, then the resultant question will be why US supports Israel?
United States was always a close ally of both Israel and Ethiopia and I think they will remain so in the coming centuries. I would say US supports to either Israel or Ethiopia has always something to do with the neighbouring muslim countries such as Palestine and Somalia.
The Ethiopian invasion to Somalia was indirectly supported by the United States of America, and a good evidence for this might be their mutedness towards the situation in Somalia atleast before Ethiopia makes a historical victory. Although I would think it is so complicated to claim a victory in Somalia. The Islamic Courts did not fight with the Ethiopian forces as was expected and they could not resist fighting face to face with the ethiopians because of the magnitude of the Ethiopian forces and the weaponary they were using.
I have a fear that victory is too far away in Somalia. Islamic Courts militias are already starting to regroup themselves in the community and for sure they will start ambushes against the Ethiopian presence, mines and other explosion and that will only deteriorate the political and the economic situation of the Somalis whether they are Islamic Courts supporters, the other side, or even the normal people.
Name
Imran
- Ethiopia
Profession
Cordinator
Question
We, Ethiopians did expect thet the war can be enlongated and we may take a part in jihad.
Now most of our groups are despaired but do you envision that the Islamic Courts movement will be perk up?
Answer
As far as I am aware, I know that many Ethiopians are not happy with the actions of their government and the invasion towards Somalia. Sometimes dictator government leaders invade other countries or simply create problems just to shift the citizen's eyes from the conditions in their home countries because of other critical problems created.
They simply do this only to continue ruling on the grip of the gun. Melez is part of this and I would hope the Ethiopian citizens will understand the reason behind the invasion to Somalia.
On the other hand, I am sure the war with the Islamic Courts is not over yet? This might for two reasons, the Islamic Courts fighters have dispersed themselves into the community and they seemed to be reintegrated with the normal communities with their guns. The ideological support of the Islamic Courts is still active and alive although the leadership is well connected.
Their militias are in every inch of Somalia hiding in their homes and keeping their guns and some of them already in the streets and the markets just to collect intelligence and know the weaknesses of the Ethiopian troops and I guess after collecting all relevant information they will start ambushes and explosions against the Ethiopian presence.
Things will be worst and deadly if the Ethiopians try to take part in the disarmament process at least by force. This could generate confrontations and long lasting war between the two groups.
Name
H
-
Profession
Question
How ere the courts established in the first place? And was the purpose other than Islamic?
Answer
Well, the Islamic Courts were first established in Somalia by a group of religious groups and other community elders, businessmen, and politicians. The main purpose was to restore some sort of security, stability and law into Mogadishu first and then to spread that to the other parts of Somalia.
The Islamic Courts started as a clan based Sharia courts and then they united their militias and idealogy and become a powerful force in Somalia.
Name
ibnmekonnen
- Ethiopia
Profession
Teacher
Question
Aww dear great thing that comes to my mind now and then is ethiopia against the right of humanbing,as it is against people who wana to lead thier life with peacefull and bright and just way, that is islam?
Answer
It is true that Ethiopia has invaded Somalia to crush the will of the Somali people. The most amazing is when Ethiopia and their US allies say 'we are invading one country because it is against our security and rights?'
How can one country invade other country claiming that it protects its rights meanwhile it goes on destroying the rights of the civilians and the innocent people.
What about the rights of the invaded rather the invader? What happened to international laws which were previously set to protect the small nations in the world!
Some people in Somalia believe that Ethiopia and their US allies just wanted to destroy the very infat peace and the security of Somalis and bring the warlords back to POWER. To many people in the world this seems rediculous and unreasonable. Such actions will continue as long as the international laws are denied by some nations with the impunity of other powerful nations.
Name
seid
- Ethiopia
Profession
student
Question
Do U think that the call of Jihad of Islamic courts is a real Jihad?Some people believed that this group is spoiling Sheria by choosing Islamic courts as their group name .How do you see this?
Answer
Well, it will mainly depend on how one defines the word 'Jihad'. For those who define it as a self protection, protecting the dignity, and the religious, as well as the national rights of one group, then I think the Islamic Courts used the word in its best way in such a meaning. While there are those who have other varying definitions for the word.
Although some members of the Islamic Courts Union made deadly and grave political and military miscalculations when they set a 7 days ultimatum to Ethiopia, most of the Islamic Courts did not want to go beyond Somalia; they were not a real threat to Ethiopia.
At least I don't see from that angle. The Islamic courts just wanted to pacify Somalia and restore law, and order. they are for ruling the country with the Sharia and I believe they had that right.
I wonder why the US and its Ethiopian allies blame the Islamic Courts of creating an Islamic government in Somalia. I am sure both the Ethiopian regime and their US allies are aware that Somalia is 100% muslim country.
Then why they do not ask themselve what sort of government will these people choose rather than having an Islamic government.
These are the wrongdoings of the US government and its Ethiopian allies and even sometimes you simply see they are not clear of what they are going to do.
They just destroy without thinking about builidng and reconstructing the future these vulnerable and innocent communities.
Name
Mustafa
- Canada
Profession
student
Question
Assalamualikum
Is it right for ethiopia to invade the soverign nation of Somalia. It seems nobody cared when it was run by a gun but now that it had a foreward look the whole world seeks to destroy it.
Is this war really fuelled by diffrent countries and Ethiopia is just their tool. If so can u tell me their names and the U.S talks about how Somalia might become a haven of terrorists. Is this true.
Are the Courts like the Taliban it seems they have moderates and extremists. Is it the case that the moderates are there for show but extremists run the country or more even.
Al Qaeda has sworn to fight Ethiopia. Isnt a Somalia back in civil strife more ideal for them to set up bases to fight then a somalia that has law and a proper governmental authourity which snubs them.
Lastly the first supposed Suicide BOmbing occured in Somalia last year. Sucide carbombs were also used in the war against invading Ethiopia. Is this because the Courts are extremists or there is an extremist prescence in the horn of Africa
Answer
No country has the right to invade another free nation and this is unacceptable in front of the international law. But these years the most powerful nations were not giving any consideration to the international laws.
This invasion has been fuelled by some powerful nations and Ethiopia was just a tool, not only a tool along but a tool with goals and objectives.
They all had common interests towards the destruction of Somalia. Ethiopia always wanted to keep Somalia as lawlessness country as it has been for the past 16 years or otherwise install a weak but friendly government of its own in Somalia, the ones that will be its puppets in Somalia .
United States wanted just to destroy the Islamic Courts because they could be a a threat . I have no justification for this and I have no idea of this when the vulnerable and the poor Islamic Courts who just wanted to restore law and order in their homeland can be a threat to the most powerful nation in the world.
This is a puzzle and it will remain for a long, until the United States explains their intentions and ambitions towards the destruction of the Islamic Courts.
The US also blamed the Islamic Courts of having ambitions to install an Islamic State in Somalia knowing that Somalia is 100% muslim country. let me ask How dare US to install a secular government in a country with 100% muslim community?! This is so shameful and will end in chaos and failure.
All these are beside the big worries many intellectuals in the world and in Somalia in particular fear, as the United States and Ethiopia bring the warlords who have been oppressing the normal citizens of Somalia for years and divided Somalia into small fire fields under their control!
Name
Host
-
Profession
Question
.
Answer
The session has ended. We would like to thank Mr. Ali Said Omar for taking the time to answer the questions of IslamOnline viewers, and all those who participated in this live dialogue.
we apologize for not being able to answer all the questions we received due to time limitations.
