Hargeisa (SD) – Somaliland Vice President Abdirahman Abdillahi Ismail (Saylici) has today inaugurated the Zakat National Conference in Hargeisa.

The conference, organized by the Somaliland Ministry of Religion and Endowments, will last for two days and will be attended by members of the Council of Ministers, religious leaders, business people.

The Director General of the Ministry of Religion and Endowments of Somaliland, Sheikh Adan Abdillahi Abdalle, first addressed the gathering and welcomed the participants of the Zakat National Conference.

Some scholars in the country who conducted a study on zakat spoke about the importance of zakat to the community and successful examples of zakat contributions.

Somaliland Minister of Finance Development Dr. Saad Ali Shire, welcomed the meeting, noting that the he considers it a step forward for the Ministry of Religion and Awqaf in Somaliland to open the meeting on zakat. He added that zakat will be part of the economic and social development.

The Minister of Religion and Endowments of Somaliland, Sheikh Khalil Abdullahi Ahmed, who also addressed the National Zakat Conference and said that zakat is one of the main pillars of Islam and the government has a responsibility to educate the public and fulfill this religious duty.

Sheikh Khalil, added that the constitution of Somaliland is in accordance with Islamic law and that anything that goes against it will not be implemented. The minister noted that the program aims for Muslims to pay charity and perform religious duties and to improve the economy of the poor.

Somaliland Vice President Abdirahman Abdillahi Ismail (Saylici) praised the Ministry of Religion and Endowments, and pointed out that zakat is of great importance to the community.