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Wikipedia Founder Says More Arabic Content is Needed

Jimmy Wales, Founder of Wikipedia
Jimmy Wales, Founder of Wikipedia
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Wikipedia Founder Says More Arabic Content is Needed

Jimmy Wales, Founder of Wikipedia
Jimmy Wales, Founder of Wikipedia

Jimmy Wales, the founder and president of Wikipedia, one of the top 5 websites in the world, advised reporters not to use references from the site, adding that governments’ interference in editing the content would turn the pages into tools for public relations.
 
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Wales said the Arabic content of Wikipedia was unfortunately less than what it is wanted.
 
Wikipedia’s Arabic community is small, and what is published or what is being edited is few, he said, stressing that the Arabic language had a lot of linguistic power and richness, hoping that further efforts would be deployed to improve the Arabic content in Wikipedia as it is in other languages.
 
Wales noted that according to some volunteers in Wikipedia, the limited Arabic content was due to the Arab youth’s interest in sports more than academic or research topics. But he added that this was not the real cause.
 
He explained that investment in education was very important to reach the required goals in editing and translation, stressing that an educated youth was the basis for a country’s development.
 
Asked about the accuracy of the site’s information, Wales emphasized that its editors seek to achieve as much accuracy, perfection and quality as possible. He noted, however, that the encyclopedia could not be regarded as an academic or research reference.
 
He recounted that in 2001, when the site was first launched, the goal of the founders was not to make it an academic reference, but to contribute to raising questions rather than finding the answers.
 
Researchers may use the encyclopedia to read or view certain information, but not to use it or quote the website in their papers, he explained.
 
Wales refuses to talk about his financial situation, and does not accept to be included in the list of billionaires.
 
Stressing that he was not a billionaire, he noted that Wikipedia was not afraid of bankruptcy and would not sell personal pages, impose fees, or enable governments or administrators to own and edit their own pages.
 
A charity fund with a capital of $100 million makes Wales confident that bankruptcy is not a matter of concern.
 
He noted that the site’s demand for financial contribution was a kind of participation to spread knowledge, not to make profits, adding that the charity fund was managed very carefully and conservatively.
 
Asked about his new project, Wikitribune, Wales said that the idea was as much as possible to benefit from all the inhabitants of the globe to participate in the dissemination of the news and the provision of materials and pictures and others.
 
He denied allegations that the new platform would put an end to the press profession and the journalist’s job, stressing that no one could publish directly on the Wikitribune, as there is an editor and journalists, adding each material would be subject to the approval of the editorial team.
 
Wales concluded by emphasizing that a journalist must nowadays have knowledge in everything, adding a journalist should use Wikipedia to question, raise questions and search for resources more widely.

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Interviews

Al-Sharaa to Asharq Al-Awsat: Revolution Ended with Regime’s Fall, Will Not Be Exported

Ahmed Al-Sharaa in the interview with Bissane El-Cheikh in Damascus on Thursday
Ahmed Al-Sharaa in the interview with Bissane El-Cheikh in Damascus on Thursday
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Al-Sharaa to Asharq Al-Awsat: Revolution Ended with Regime’s Fall, Will Not Be Exported

Ahmed Al-Sharaa in the interview with Bissane El-Cheikh in Damascus on Thursday
Ahmed Al-Sharaa in the interview with Bissane El-Cheikh in Damascus on Thursday

Ahmed Al-Sharaa, the head of the new Syrian administration, told Asharq Al-Awsat that “the Syrian revolution ended with the regime's fall, and we will not allow it to spread elsewhere.”

He stressed that Syria “will not be used to attack or destabilize any Arab or Gulf country.”

Speaking from the Presidential Palace in Damascus on Thursday, Al-Sharaa said the Syrian opposition’s actions had “set the Iranian project in the region back by 40 years.”

Asked why Syria has yet to send a direct message to the Gulf and major Arab nations, Al-Sharaa responded by saying that his country has much to say to its Arab neighbors.

“Syria had become a platform for Iran to control key Arab capitals, spread wars, and destabilize the Gulf with drugs like Captagon,” he said.

He added: “By removing Iranian militias and closing Syria to Iranian influence, we’ve served the region’s interests—achieving what diplomacy and external pressure could not, with minimal losses.”

Al-Sharaa also criticized efforts to restore ties with the former Syrian regime, including its return to the Arab League in exchange for concessions.

“We were confident this would fail because we knew the regime would not make any genuine concessions or approach these overtures in good faith,” he said.

He claimed that during a meeting with Jordanian officials, the former regime was asked why it insisted on exporting Captagon to Jordan.

“The response was that it would not stop unless sanctions were lifted," Al-Sharaa said, adding “this is not how the regime operates.”

He emphasized that Gulf strategic security has since improved. “Today, the Iranian project in the region has been pushed back 40 years, making the Gulf more secure and stable.”

When asked if he would give reassurances on Syria not becoming a refuge for certain figures, Al-Sharaa dismissed concerns about hosting figures who cause concern for some Arab nations, saying Syria will not become a haven for controversial individuals.

“We are now focused on state-building. The revolution ended with the regime's fall, and we will not allow it to spread elsewhere. Syria will not be a platform to threaten or unsettle any Arab or Gulf country,” he said.

Al-Sharaa stressed that Syria seeks to rebuild and strengthen ties with Arab nations. “Syria is tired of wars and being used for others’ agendas. We want to restore trust and rebuild our country as part of the Arab world.”

He praised the Gulf’s progress, saying: “We admire the development in Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia’s bold plans and vision, and we aspire to achieve similar progress for Syria.”

He added: “There are many opportunities for cooperation, especially in economic and developmental areas, where we can align our goals.”

On Syria’s relationship with its neighbor Lebanon, Al-Sharaa acknowledged concerns raised by Lebanese counterparts about him reaching Damascus, fearing it could strengthen one faction over another in Lebanon.

“We are not seeking any form of dominance over Lebanon,” he said. “We want a relationship based on mutual respect and exchange, without interfering in Lebanon’s internal affairs. We have enough work to do in our own country.”

Al-Sharaa emphasized Syria’s intention to maintain balanced relations, saying he aims “to stand equally with all Lebanese groups, and what pleases them, pleases us.”

Al-Sharaa was asked about a national dialogue conference and a new constitution to guide Syria’s future, and the mechanism that he plans to ensure inclusivity for all Syrians in the process, especially among the base of supporters and fighters who do not necessarily agree with his current moderate speech.

Al-Sharaa acknowledged differing opinions but emphasized he does not want to impose his personal views on Syrians.

“I believe in letting legal experts shape the relationship between citizens, with the law as the guide,” he said.

“Syria is diverse, and it's natural for there to be different opinions. This difference is healthy.”

Al-Sharaa stressed that the recent victory is for all Syrians, not one group over another.

“Even those we thought were loyal to the old regime expressed joy, as they had not been able to openly express their feelings before,” he noted.

He expressed confidence that Syrians, regardless of their background, are aware enough to protect their country.

“My aim is to reach a broad agreement and build a country where the rule of law helps resolve our differences,” Al-Sharaa concluded.

On the complex issue of forced disappearances and individuals missing in prisons and mass graves, Al-Sharaa said the previous regime was a criminal gang, not a political system.

“We fought a brutal group that committed crimes like arrests, forced disappearances, killings, displacement, starvation, chemical attacks, and torture,” he said.

He stressed that while the regime is gone, the focus should be on justice, not revenge.

“We must not approach this with a desire for vengeance,” he said.

Al-Sharaa stated that those responsible for crimes like the Saydnaya prison and chemical attacks must be held accountable.

“Their names are known and they must be pursued,” he said. He also affirmed that families have the right to file complaints against unknown perpetrators.

Al-Sharaa outlined efforts to address the issue of missing persons. “We’ve broken the barriers, and specialized organizations are now helping with this task,” he said.

A new ministry will be set up to track the fate of the missing, both the deceased and the living.

“This will also assist families with documents like death certificates and inheritance,” he added.

He acknowledged the challenge ahead but emphasized the need to uncover the truth. “This is a big task, but we must find the truth,” Al-Sharaa said.

When asked about hosting the interview at the People’s Palace, the same location where Bashar al-Assad once sat, Al-Sharaa responded with a light-hearted laugh.

“To be honest, I don’t feel comfortable at all,” he said. “But this is a place that should be open to the people, a site where they can visit and where children can play in these courtyards.”