Abd al-Wahhab Muhammad Abd al-Rahman al-Humayqani

Abd al-Wahhab Muhammad Abd al-Rahman al-Humayqani (عبد الوهاب الحميقاني) (born 1972) is a prominent Yemeni politician. He is the Secretary General of the Al-Rashad Union, the first Yemeni Salafi political party established in March 2012.[1] He is also a founding member of Alkarama, a Swiss-based independent human rights NGO that advocates for Muslim civil rights.[2]

Education and training

Humayqani attended Sana’a University, where he specialized in Islamic Studies and International Law. He is currently a university professor and a member of the Yemen's Ulama. He is also a keynote speaker at the Imam Shawkaani mosque in Sana’a and manages a number of humanitarian relief projects under the supervision of the Ministry of Social and Labour Affairs.[3]

Political activity

Al-Rashad Union

Once affiliated with the Yemeni Islamist party al-Islah, Humayqani is a founding member and the Secretary General of al-Rashad Union. In March 2012 he attended the three-day conference in Yemen as the secretary general of the preparatory committee that led to the foundation of al-Rashad Union.[1]

Shortly after the end of the conference, he declared in an interview that behind the Salafis’ descent into the political arena was the party members’ willingness to “contribute to the nation's awakening in line with developments being witnessed by Yemen and Arab region in light of the Arab Spring.”[4] He further stated that al-Rashad would unite the Salafi factions in the country toward the common goal of the ruling “the people using the Islamic Shari’a law and peaceful means."[4]

As reiterated by many party members on several occasions, al-Rashad attempts to provide an authentic, conservative Islamic voice in the country.[1] The party is also committed to defend the rights of Yemen’s citizens, and especially to create new opportunities for Yemeni youth.[5] Interviewed in 2012, Humayqani stressed that al-Rashad intended to pursue a peaceful alternative to violence and to ground a solid democracy in a more stable Yemen.[1]

Asked about his view on the role of women in society, he emphasized that Shari’a was the foundational premise of the party’s program, and added bluntly that the party members “are against equality” of roles because of physiological differences between men and women, although he affirmed women’s equality in value and rights. Al-Rashad includes a special department for women’s affairs.[4]

The National Dialogue Conference

Humayqani took part to the National Dialogue Conference (NDC) held in Yemen in March 2013 as a representative of al-Rashad party, along with 564 other representatives of Yemeni political parties.[6] The conference inaugurated the second phase of Yemen’s transition of power in the framework of the Gulf initiative signed in Riyadh in November 2011 by the deposed President Ali Abdullah Saleh.[6]

The initiative, brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council and sponsored by the United States and Saudi Arabia,[7] stipulated a two-year transitional period and created the National Dialogue Conference as a forum to discuss outstanding issues and to draft a new constitution compatible with Yemen’s new situation.[7]

According to al-Monitor, Humayqani was “one of the most prominent participants, proving to be an intelligent and flexible leader, with an awareness and willingness to accommodate the views of others that no other Salafist movement leader in Yemen had ever shown.”[8]

2015 peace talks in Geneva

In June 2015, Humayqani participated to the UN-sponsored peace talks in Geneva in his capacity as member of the Yemeni government in exile. He was one of just two party leaders who participated in the talks.[7]

There have been speculations that the selection of Humayqani as one of the two Yemeni representative to attend the conference may indicate Saudi Arabia’s hope that al-Rashad Union can be bolstered to compete with the Muslim Brotherhood like al-Nour party in Egypt.[9]

Humayqani’s affiliation with Saudi Arabia was especially emphasized after that the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated him as an al-Qaeda supporter based in Yemen who “has frequently traveled throughout the Arabian Peninsula while conducting business for AQAP.”[10] Moreover, according to a U.S. official interviewed by the Christian Science Monitor in 2014, Saudi Arabia is the country of origin of most of the backers of Humayqani’s financial transfers.[11]

Humayqani has also strong ties with Qatar. He was hosted on the Qatari TV channel al-Jazeera to comment on the Geneva talks.[12] Humayqani served as a “onetime adviser to Qatar on charitable giving”[2] and was one of the local representatives of the Qatari branch of Alkarama.[1] He also attended the opening ceremony of a mosque built in Yemen mostly funded by the Qatari government upon request of the Qatari authorities.[13]

Philanthropic activity

Humayqani is a founding member of Alkarama, a Geneva-based NGO established in 2004 “to assist all those in the Arab World subjected to or at risk of extrajudicial executions, disappearances, torture and arbitrary detention.”[14]

According to a statement issued by the organization on 24 April 2011 to condemn the assassination attempt by the Troops of the Republican Guard in Al Bayda province (Yemen), Humayqani is Alkarama’s Yemen branch spokesperson.[3]

Alleged involvement in terrorist activities

In December 2013, the U.S. Department of the Treasury listed Humayqani as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). The U.S. authorities argued that al-Rashad’s secretary general was a fundraiser and a key figure of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).[12]

The treasury refers to Humayqani as “an important figure within AQAP and reportedly had a relationship with important AQAP leaders.” The treasury blames Humayqani for orchestrating an attack on the Yemeni Republican Guard by employing many “vehicle borne explosive devices,” an operation that killed seven people. Humayqani is listed as the recruiter for an AQAP group plotting to attack officials in Yemen.[15]

Humayqani, according to the treasury, has not only provided financial support for AQAP but has also acted on their behalf by representing them in meetings to negotiate the release of soldiers being held hostage by AQAP. In addition, Humayqani directed an armed AQAP group trying to carry out attacks on government facility attacks including a government building in al-Bayda Governorate.[15]

According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s statement, Humayqani exploited his role as “the head of a Yemen-based charity” to fundraise on behalf of AQAP as well as to facilitate financial transfers from AQAP supporters in Saudi Arabia to Yemen.[10]

The U.S. Treasury did not single out Alkarama in its designation; nonetheless, there are strong elements suggesting that Alkarama is the charity concerned.[16] Humayqani declared in an interview with The Christian Science Monitor that he had resigned from his charity.[11] More importantly, Alkarama’s implication is suggested by Humayqani’s association with the other subject designated as SDGT by the U.S. Department of the Treasury on the same occasion, namely Abd al-Rahman bin Umayr al-Nuaymi.

Nuaymi is a Qatari history professor and founding member of Alkarama, who resigned as president of Alkarama’s board shortly after the U.S. allegations were formalized.[16] Even before 2013, Nuaymi was banned from entering Saudi Arabia for terrorist charges.[16]

Besides providing financial support, the U.S. authorities claimed that Humayqani played a central role in the Yemeni branch of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Allegedly, he had a relationship with important AQAP leaders, he acted as a recruiter in Sana in support of AQAP efforts in Southern Yemen, and coordinated the movement of AQAP fighters across Yemen in cooperation with the AQAP cadres.[10]

Moreover, he reportedly “represented AQAP in meetings with Yemeni officials to negotiate the release of Yemeni soldiers held by AQAP.” According to the U.S. Treasury, Humayqani’s high-profile affiliation with AQAP is further supported by his alleged leading role in an AQAP attack on a Yemeni Republican Guard base in Al Bayda Governorate that killed seven people and which he supposedly orchestrated in March 2012.[10]

The U.S. statement also added that “Humayqani has directed a group of armed AQAP associates that intended to carry out attacks on Yemeni government facilities and institutions, including a Yemeni government building in al-Bayda Governorate.”[10]

The document emphasized that AQAP leadership intended to establish a new political party in Yemen supposedly led by Humayqani, which the Yemeni franchise of al-Qaeda would have used “as a cover for the recruitment and training of fighters and a means to attract broader support.”[10]

Furthermore, the U.S. charged that Humayqani issued religious guidance in support of AQAP operations along with the cleric Abd al-Majid al-Zindani.[10] Al-Zindani was a one-time mentor of Osama bin Laden[17] whom both the U.S. and the United Nations listed as an al-Qaeda loyalist and supporter.[18] Humayqani was sent to attend the opening ceremony of the mosque funded by Qatar’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Endowments[19] along with al-Zindani by the Qatari authorities.[12]

The sanctions imposed on Humayqani by the U.S. Department of the Treasury consisted of the freezing of any assets he may have had under U.S. jurisdiction and sanctioning anyone who does business with him, as well as of a request of extradition.[10]

President Mansour Hadi refused to extradite the politician and denounced the charges, which caused a wave of discontent in Yemen from within the political and the religious field.[1] The Yemeni government sent the U.S. Department of the Treasury a letter condemning the designation as SDGT of Humayqani.[1]

Humayqani has regularly denied all charges against him.[11] Interviewed by The Washington Post, he declared that his charities “benefit orphans, mosques and poor families, not al-Qaeda,” and that he had no objections to face trial in Yemen to defend himself against any charges.[20]

Controversies

In December 2013, NGO Monitor called on Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to immediately undertake independent investigations into their procedures for performing due diligence on potential NGO partners after it was discovered that these organizations had issued joint statements with Humayqani’s charity, Alkarama. “In addition,” NGO monitor writes “these organizations have an obligation to review the status of the officials responsible for such collaborations, alliances, and affiliations.”[21] Amnesty admitted that, in the past, Alkarama helped it with information on human rights abuse cases and added that it was “unable to confirm” the accuracy of the US allegations of terror finance. Human Rights Watch declined to comment.[22]

In June 2015, the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies’ David Andrew Weinberg wrote an article admonishing the United Nations for not only allowing Humayqani to attend Geneva peace, in his capacity as part of the Yemeni government in exile, but also for a photo that emerged of Ban Ki Moon shaking hands with the alleged terrorist supporter. Weinberg called the photo “embarrassing” but used the moment as a learning opportunity that “highlights some of the shortcomings of the international community’s efforts to combat terror finance.” According to Weinberg, the U.S. government raised concerns with the U.N. over Humayqani’s participation in the UN-brokered peace talks and criticized Yemen’s government for including Humayqani in the first place. However, such expressions of concern went unheeded by the United Nations.[23]

Weinberg also called Humayqani’s presence at the peace talks a moment of shame for Qatar: “His reemergence is also an embarrassment for Doha, where Humayqani once worked as a mufti at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Endowments as a ‘onetime adviser to Qatar on charitable giving.’” Weinberg calls out Qatar for hosting and consulting Humayqani. Particularly Weinberg was upset that Humayqani appeared as a guest on Qatar’s Al Jazeera Arabic news netwok to comment on the foundation of UN-brokered talks in Geneva.[23]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bonnefoy, Laurent; Kuschnitizki, Judit (2015-01-12). "Salafis and the 'Arab Spring' in Yemen: Progressive Politicization and Resilient Quietism". Arabian Humanities (4). ISSN 1248-0568.
  2. 1 2 Warrick, Joby; Root, Tik (2013-12-22). "Islamic charity officials gave millions to al-Qaeda, U.S. says". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  3. 1 2 "Yemen: Assassination attempt against Alkarama member Al-Humaiqani - Alkarama Foundation". Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  4. 1 2 3 "The Rashad Union Party". www.islamopediaonline.org. Islamopedia Online. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  5. ↑ "أهداف الرشاد". alrshad.net. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  6. 1 2 "Yemen National Dialogue Conference - Bridging differences and mending relations- Yemen Post English Newspaper Online". www.yemenpost.net. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  7. 1 2 3 Schmitz, Charles (2014-02-01). "Yemen's National Dialogue" (PDF). Middle East Institute Policy Paper Series. Washington, D.C. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  8. ↑ "Al-Qaeda benefits from unsettled Yemen politics - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East". Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  9. ↑ "Yemen Talks in Geneva | Middle East Research and Information Project". www.merip.org. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Treasury Designates Al-Qa'ida Supporters in Qatar and Yemen". www.treasury.gov. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  11. 1 2 3 Baron, Adam. "US Treasury labels prominent Yemeni politician a terrorist". Christian Science Monitor. ISSN 0882-7729. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  12. 1 2 3 "Ban Ki-Moon shakes hands with alleged al Qaeda emir". Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  13. ↑ Kirkpatrick, David D. (2014-09-07). "Qatar's Support of Islamists Alienates Allies Near and Far". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  14. ↑ "About Us - Alkarama Foundation". Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  15. 1 2 "Treasury Designates Al-Qa'ida Supporters in Qatar and Yemen". www.treasury.gov. Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  16. 1 2 3 Lake, Eli (2013-12-20). "Terrorists for Human Rights". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  17. ↑ Kasinof, Laura; Shane, Scott (2011-03-01). "Powerful Cleric Urges Islamic Rule in Yemen". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  18. ↑ "United States Designates bin Laden Loyalist". www.treasury.gov. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  19. ↑ برس, مأرب. "الهتار:يشيد بقطر وقناة الجزيرة..والزنداني:يدعو أمريكا والغرب لكف محاربتهم الإسلام". marebpress.net. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  20. ↑ Hauslohner, Abigail (2014-02-15). "Yemeni 'global terrorist' says he hascounterterrorism advice for Washington". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  21. ↑ "No Impunity for HRW & Amnesty: Investigate Partnerships in Wake of Al Qaeda Allegations". Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  22. ↑ "Amnesty admits links to activist accused of funding Al Qaeda | The National". Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  23. 1 2 "Ban Ki-Moon shakes hands with alleged al Qaeda emir | The Long War Journal". Retrieved 2016-06-29.
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