Qaradawi to lead delegation to mediate between Houti rebels, Yemeni govt 

(MENAFN - The Peninsula) A delegation of prominent Muslim scholars led by noted Doha-based Islamic scholar Dr Yousuf Al Qaradawi is expected to visit Yemen soon to mediate in the conflict between the Houti rebels and the Yemeni government.

The delegation is sent by the International Federation of Muslim Scholars based in the UK. Qaradawi was recently reelected chairman of the Federation.

The team will be heading towards the Yemeni capital Sanaa, as soon the visit gets approval by the Yemeni government, according to Al Sharq. The government is currently weighing what the scholars' team could possibly do to resolve the conflict.

What Yemen is witnessing now is the revival of an old conflict that was triggered in 2004 when the Shiite Houtis demanded restoration of their Imam system which collapsed during the coup in 1962. The Saada province in Yemen bordering Saudi Arabia has been witnessing an escalation of tensions since August last year.

Along with prominent Sunni scholars including Qaradawi, the delegation will also have a noted Shiite scholar Ayatollah Mohammed Tasgheeri, who is a member of the Federation. Ali Al Quradaghi, another Doha-based Islamic scholar is also a member of the team.

The scholars also expect to mediate in the ongoing conflict in South Yemen. The Federation in the past had played an important role in issues concerning the Islamic world, including Darfur, Gaza and Afghanistan.