By: almotamar.net - HE President Ali Abdullah Saleh asserted that Al-Iman University is a Yemeni university and rejected accusations attached to it. "Doubts cast about Al-Iman University are untrue," he said, confirming that if there was anything wrong with the conduct of the university, he would have taken the necessary disciplinary actions.
"The rumors around Al-Iman University are false and circulated by defeated forces. Such rumors have scared its students and made them feel as outcasts in their society," he said.
The President addressed the students at the graduation ceremony of the 4th, 5th, and 6th batches, saying, "Nay, you are our sons, daughters, brothers and sisters. You are given the same care as students of other Yemeni universities. I confirm our support for this university."
The President had been keen to invite diplomatic missions' representatives to the graduation ceremony.
"I have been interested in inviting heads of diplomatic missions. I once talked to Sheikh Abdul-Majeed Al-Zandani, Rector of Al-Iman University, and discussed the importance of inviting heads of diplomatic missions to Al-Iman University and show them the textbooks taught over here. Here is nothing like hidden curriculum. Some states have sent intelligence agents as students but got out with nothing because the syllabus is based only on the Quraan, Sunnah and Shariah. This is fine. The presence of such private charitable universities has lightened the government's [educational] burden."
He also thanked Sheikh Abdul-Majeed Al-Zandani and the professors of the university who have contributed to training the graduating students and equipping them with necessary religious knowledge.
He added, "The male and female preachers graduating from this university bear the responsibility for inculcating the true values of Islam."
It is noteworthy that President Ali Abdullah Saleh issued directives in 1994 to give a piece of land from the State's lands for establishing Al-Iman University. There have been, however, groundless rumors that Al-Iman University promotes Islamic fundamentalism.