An International Model To Put an End to the Conflict
in the Islamic World Is Possible

The airstrike operation initiated in Yemen by Saudi-led coalition forces under the name "Decisive Storm" on March 26th came to an end on April 21st, and operation "Restoring Hope" for the people of Yemen was announced instead; a ceasefire was then declared. Although the fighting has eased, occasional coalition bombardments are still taking place. Efforts to reconcile the sides are also being made.

The US, which encouraged Saudi Arabia and its partners in the coalition to undertake the operation against the Houthis, is now talking to the Houthis in order to establish peace. Rajeh Badi, a spokesman for the al-Hadi government in Yemen, suggested that the US had met with the Houthis in Oman. In a statement to Reuters, Badi said that the US had met with Shiite Houthis in Oman: "We have been informed that there are meetings, at American request, and that a private American plane carried the Houthis to Muscat." He added that the Yemeni government was not party to the talks. (1)

In the wake of that claim, Marie Harf, senior advisor for strategic communications to U.S. Secretary of State, confirmed that Anne W. Patterson, the top diplomat for the Near East, had indeed met with representatives of the Houthi in Oman. (2)

Daifallah al-Shami, a senior Houthi official, issued a statement that his movement would take part – without preconditions – in U.N.-backed peace talks intended to put an end to the civil conflict and due to be held in Geneva on June 14th.

We are looking at a very striking fact when we evaluate this development considering the events in recent years in a region stretching from Libya to Afghanistan, including Yemen.

Forces of influence in the Arab-Islamic world are capable of assuming a role in building peace and establishing order on the one hand while inflicting terrible destruction on these lands on the other. So enfeebled is the Arab-Islamic world that it has come to look for peace from countries that stand to benefit economically and politically from Muslims killing one another. This enormous dichotomy is a clear sign that any peace established by parties that stand to gain from selling arms to the Arab-Islamic world, or exploiting its oil, can never provide a permanent solution, but will give birth to new conflicts instead.

The only way of halting the fighting is for the Islamic world to establish unity based on permanent reconciliation within itself. Let us not forget that in the Qur'an, God commands Muslims to be united: "Those who are unbelievers are the friends and protectors of one another. If you do not act in this way [be friends and protectors of one another] there will be turmoil in the land and great corruption." (Surat al-Anfal, 73)

So how is that unity to come about?

When they look at the seemingly unceasing turmoil and conflict in the Islamic world, many people think that any agreement or unity in these lands is a risible suggestion. Yet if the countries of the world can coalesce around oil, or even football, then Muslims can recall the words of God and be united as brothers.

The only way of halting the fighting is for the Islamic world to establish unity based on permanent reconciliation within itself.

For example, in the same way that the European Union is united in a broad economic, political, military, cultural and social context, an Islamic Union can also come together under globally agreed-to terms. Indeed, a union of affection established by Muslims who regard one another as brothers, as commanded in the verses of the Qur'an, would be much more powerful than the EU, which is based almost entirely upon economic interests. In that regard, an Islamic Union will represent an example of a fine union for the peace for which everyone longs.

All Islamic countries that join the Islamic Union must be guaranteed that the independence and sovereignty of all the states in the region will be respected: In other words, no one country will dominate the union, and some countries will not dominate others for economic or political advantage. Members of the union will thus maintain their own sovereign structures, but will act as a single nation when it comes to matters of agreed cooperation.

Member countries' borders will be inviolable and each country will be independent in terms of its domestic affairs. Disagreements will be resolved by peaceful means instead of through international policies looking for military solutions. The resolution of problems through policies of love, rather than resorting to threats and force, will also further strengthen the union.

In order for this to be possible, guarantees must be set in place to ensure that human rights and basic freedoms, such as the freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief are respected across the union as a whole and in all its individual members. This will lead to the union being respected and listened to across the world.

In order for such a union capable of producing joint development policies based on consultations to come about, polices aimed at establishing a union of hearts among Muslim countries must also be adopted. Programs must be instituted in all media organizations and educational institutions, including those in Yemen, teaching that Muslims are brothers, not enemies. National leaders should make a significant contribution to the founding of that union by issuing statements in line with these programs.

Once that is done, it will be possible to build an Islamic world in which Muslims live in peace and tranquility in artistically built cities and at the very highest levels of quality.