Communists since a Thousand Years (South Yemen)

Troeller/Deffarge once asked a cabinet minister in South Yemen, why socialistic ideas were so readily acceptable in that part of the Arab world. He replied: “Because we have been communists for a thousand years! My mother was a Karmatian.” The Qaramitah, as the Karmatians are also known, had fascinated the reporter-team ever since their stay in Persia in 1950s.