Aden – Aidarus Qassem Al-Zubaidi, President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Vice Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, has issued a decision to establish a preparatory committee for the Southern Fatwa Authority. 

The move marks a significant step in the STC’s efforts to institutionalize religious guidance and strengthen the role of southern clerics in shaping public discourse.

According to the announcement, the newly formed committee will be tasked with drafting the organizational framework, defining the authority’s mandate, and coordinating with religious scholars across southern governorates. 

The initiative is seen as part of Al-Zubaidi’s broader strategy to consolidate southern institutions and provide a unified platform for religious consultation amid Yemen’s ongoing conflict.

The Southern Fatwa Authority is expected to serve as a body that offers religious opinions (fatwas) on social, cultural, and political matters, while also promoting moderation and countering extremist narratives. 

The committee’s composition and detailed roadmap are expected to be announced in the coming weeks, with consultations involving clerics, tribal leaders, and community representatives.