The decision of the Somali people

ANN: There are people in Mogadishu who have taken the properties and possessions of other Somali people. How do the courts see this?

Sh. Sherif: This is one of the most important things that we want to address. Our first priority is to see that properties and farms that have been looted should be returned to their rightful owners.

ANN: Do you have any fears from the US Government?

Sh. Sherif: We have no fears. We know that the Americans have a lot of wrong information about us; we believe that a lot of misconceptions have been fed to them, but as long as they have now expressed their willingness to talk to us, we see this as the first step towards the right direction.

ANN: How do you respond to the question: Who is Sheikh Sherif Sheikh Ahmed? Where was he born? Where did he study? And what are his ambitions?

Sh. Sherif: I would rather not answer this.

ANN: Is there anything you want to add?

Sh. Sherif: Yes; we would like to tell the world that we are a popular uprising. We were serving the people under very difficult circumstances. The people have started to get a semblance of peace. In fact we have come through a challenging situation. The men who have destroyed the Somali nation, caused mass migrations, and looted people's properties and dignity have been armed due to wrong information they provided to the US Government. These were the causes of the fighting. Therefore, we appeal to the world to save Somalia from an imminent danger.

Likewise, I urge all Somali people, particularly those in the diaspora to send assistance to the people suffering in Mogadishu and other parts of the country; to work towards the peace and beauty of the city; to remove the garbage, to open hospitals and to build roads.

I want to tell you also that the people of the Islamic Courts are nothing to be afraid of. They are normal persons who couldn't tolerate the daily and endless suffering of the people. They are the poorest and weakest people of the community. Some of them cannot even find the daily subsistence of their families and yet they don't like to use public funds. You have to know that so many sons have died, so many sons have been injured, and so many sons have lost their properties. In fact, it is an enormous task and to have brought it to a Somali level is itself a great achievement.

We hope to have a lot of consultations with our people in the diaspora, with the educated and the wise people and to hold many consultations with Somalis inside the country. We believe that the Somali people can reach a solution if they work together in a concerted way. Therefore, the only opportunity we offer to the people is to come together and work towards a common decision on an equal basis and without any discrimination of anyone.