An open discussion between H E Dr Ali bin Fetais Al Marri, the Attorney General of Qatar, and students of the College of Law at Qatar University was a good event. Students are an important segment of society, and can convey the importance of fighting corruption. This is a beautiful thing indeed, because these students will hold positions in different fields of work in the near future.
Here I will dwell on some of the points raised in the meeting, which was positive and gave us indications that we are passing through a practical and serious phase in the fight against corruption.
This is what many people here hope for. These people hope that Qatar leads the way in the fight against corruption.
Here I quote Al Marri, from a report in the Arabic daily Al Sharq: “The fight against corruption must start at home through upbringing and the mechanisms related to it. This fight must then be taken up the different stages of education, to the university.”
Al Marri added: “Our country will flourish more as the fight against corruption gets more intense. But our country will go down if this fight against corruption subsides. You can find poverty and unemployment in some rich countries because there is corruption in these countries.
“We do not think that we have reached perfection yet. We still have a long way to go in the fight against corruption.”
This is correct. Positive attitudes and optimism are badly needed. We need to have perseverance. We hope that we will remain on the right track, which will help us uproot all forms of corruption.
“In Qatar, we have Emiri directives to mercilessly punish corrupt people,” Al Marri said.
“Nations can take steps forward when wise management and the will to fight corruption join hands,” he added.
“The Arab Spring was mainly triggered by mismanagement, lack of justice, and corruption,” he said.
“Egypt is the pulsating heart of the Arab world and the rest of this Arab world will be in good condition as long as this heart is in good health”, he continued.
You are right, Attorney General. Those who want good for Egypt and back Egypt at this stage are proving themselves grateful to this country and its Arab and Muslim people, the safety valve and front line of the Arab nation.
The Attorney General referred to the importance of the role of the press in fighting corruption, which is one of the most serious challenges facing society.
During the meeting, an anti-corruption professorship in the Attorney General’s name was launched. Qatar University will introduce a new anti-corruption course for all students.
This is a positive initiative and I suggest that the new course include information about the correct, Islamic way of fighting corruption, with examples of how this was done from the time of the Prophet to the time of the caliphs and those who followed in their footsteps. An explanation of the ethical values and moral system governing the fight against corruption is necessary here besides the relevant legislation and laws. I hope the new course is taught from the next term onwards.
Fighting all forms of corruption goes hand in hand with the rules of the Islamic religion and is a way of getting closer to Allah. Those who work in this field will be generously rewarded, particularly if they have good intentions and do the right deeds. God will surely bless any work aimed at spreading a culture of honesty in all segments of society, fighting corruption and uprooting it.
