Smuggling, smuggling and more smuggling, and then administrative and financial
reform arise in order to help the economic and social position of the country
recover.
Means of Smuggling:
1. Smuggling includes weapons, drugs and commodities which are not
of proper quality through Yemeni boundaries and passageways. This occurs
with the help of our enemies who aim to shake the safety and stability
of the country.
2. Smuggling also includes removing our national wealth by every means
possible. Smuggling cultural wealth (antiques and manuscripts), animal
wealth (small and female animals), fish wealth (unplanned fishing which
leads to the draining of fish out of the Yemeni waters) are all examples.
In order to smuggle our agricultural wealth, they help fruits to ripen
early by using some chemical compounds like ethylene. This causes the drying
out of plants and so destroys the fertility of our land.
In addition, there is a widespread qat planting over most of our lands.
Fruits, vegetables and grains planted in Yemen are being smuggled outside
the country. Moreover, smuggling takes precedence over our imports like
food and medicines. All this is unfortunately supervised by some traitor
officials in the government.
3. Another phase of smuggling is in paving the way for Yemeni talents and
qualified people to emigrate and look for a better living in order to ensure
their future. This comes after oppressing all the educated people of the
country by ill-treating them (treating people who belong to some areas
better than others).
The
uselessness of the law and worrying about the future helped to create social
and economic problems. Some people helped to create these problems. Many
emigrate to find opportunities for work, and others seek refuge abroad
in order to establish an opposition against the government.
Lately, the country has witnessed some bomb explosions. These explosions
were carried out by some Yemeni people who, being frustrated by their bad
economic circumstances, were easy tools in the hands of our enemies.
Thus, smuggling becomes an important issue. The whole Yemeni society with
its organizations, authorities, unions etc., should raise awareness among
people about the prevalent means of smuggling and its aims to destroy the
country, socially and economically.
We should all mobilize ourselves and plan to bring smuggling to an
end. Let's start by monitoring individuals and authorities inside the country.
Let's bring out their virtues and faults in order to correct them.
By ending smuggling, we will move confidently towards our country's development
and prosperity. Several countries, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Iran and Cuba, were
capable to put an end to smuggling despite the American embargo imposed
upon them. If the same goes on here in Yemen, we can be assured that the
administrative and financial reform process will continue just the way
the government planned it. Otherwise, it will be a useless process which
helps deepen the gap between the government and the public.
Ramadhan and Zakat Al -Fitr
Ismail Al-Ghabiri,
Yemen Times
As the Islamic world is fasting through the last days of Ramadhan, one
important obligation still remains to be performed, which is Zakat Al-Fitr.
The Arabic word Zakat Al-Fitr, is the break--fast charity, that should
be given by or on behalf of every member of the Muslim family. It is prescribed
by prophet Mohammed (P) to be paid by every fasting person and every member
of household who owns one day's food for himself and his family on the
eve of Eid Al-Fitr.
God Al-Mightily said on Zakat in the Holy Qura'an "of their goods
take alms that the mightiest purify and sanctify them; and pray on their
behalf. Verily their prayers are a source of security for them; and God
is who heareth and knoweth."
Zakat Al-Fitr is equal to 5 kg of wheat, dates, or rice or the monetary
equivalent. It should be paid before performing Eid prayers, otherwise,
it will be considered as a regular charity instead.
Zakat Al-Fitr serves as a spiritual purification of fasting Muslim
and as a material assistance for the poor and destitute. According to the
prophet Mohammed (P), blessings be upon him, Zakat Al-Fitr wipes out wrong
doings that may have spoiled the purity of fasting. It is better given
on the last day of Ramadhan or any time before the Eid prayer. The purpose
of this timing is that people who receive Zakat Al-Fitr experience the
happiness of the Eid, just like rich people do.
Zakat Al-Fitr is an obligation for Muslims in the same way other regular
Zakat on funds is. God Al-Mighty says in the Qura'an, "It is not righteousness
that ye turn your faces towards East or West; but it is righteousness to
believe in God and the last day, in the Angels, in the Book and the Messengers;
to spend of your material wealth, out love for him, for your kin, for orphans,
for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom
of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to
fulfill the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient in
pain or suffering and adversity and throughout all periods of panic. Such
are the people of truth, the God-fearing."
During the reign of the Imam in northern Yemen, Zakat was levied in
a harsh manner. This was one of the causes of popular uprisings against
that defunct regime.
The republican regime later on made the estimation of Zakat a voluntary
concern for each individual. Yemeni businessmen are now trying to abolish
the obligatory levying of Zakat, and leave it to the discretion of each
individual to give directly to the needy.
