A top leader from Yemen’s minority Ismaeli Shia sect denounced politicians who called on the national dialogue preparatory commission to specify seats for Ismaelis in Yemen to ensure they are represented.
Abdullah Shaban, a leader within the Ismaeli sect in Yemen told Yemen Post that sectarian representation in the national dialogue is not what Yemen needs today and that all should enter the dialogue sessions as Yemenis operating within political parties and not religious sects. “We need to put sectarian differences behind us and Ismaelis do not want seats within the national dialogue because of their sect,” said Shaban.
He added, “Ismaelis over the years have been involved in the political process in Yemen without having their own party. We joined other parties hoping to serve the country and not the sect.”
The calls to give them representation comes after the dialogue committee gave the Jewish minority in Yemen four seats in the national dialogue though they number only in the hundreds.
Ismaelis are a small Shia sect that have more than 200,000 members in Yemen and have evolved within the Yemeni society as prominent businessmen.
Shaban concluded saying, “Ismaelis want a country where all are equal under the law and because of their qualifications and not because of their religious sect.”
Earlier in the week, senior government officials called for Ismaelis to be represented in the national dialogue, but the calls did not please the Shia sect who preferred to politically mix with political factions at the dialogue rather than receiving seats because of their religious sect.
The national dialogue is expected to be launched in the beginning of February after a six-month delay. The national dialogue was a key component in the GCC backed power transfer deal that led to longtime President Ali Abdullah Saleh leaving power after 33 years in presidency.