A turning point for Yemeni women

Thousands of angry women went on the March in Sana’a to condemn Saleh’s statement that women and men should not mix at protests. Yemen Times Photo by Adnan Al-Rajehi

Nadia Al-Sakkaf, editor in chief of The Yemen Times since 2005 and a member of SAVE Yemen. She has been a very active figure in Yemen and has won awards internationally for her role as a change agent in Yemen’s press and freedom struggle. Nadia tells us why Saleh's disparaging comments about women's participation in the protests were misplaced, and describes how men and women are working together to push for change in Yemen.

In the remote country of Yemen at the end of the Arabian Peninsula there is nothing but trouble. There is poverty, conflict, terrorism, a deteriorating economy and discrimination.

Yet there is another side to the story.

In the remote country of Yemen where beyond there is nothing but sea, hope is everywhere. It radiates from the soaring hearts of young men and women demanding change, in the eyes of women who bake colorful cakes to feed the protestors, in the chants of young kids who are learning for the first time the words of freedom, democracy and human rights.

The problem is that for hope to survive and make a difference it needs a chance. The change makers of Yemen, especially the women, need to be empowered in order to translate hope into progress.

Against all odds Yemeni women have broken all stereotypes and achieved the impossible. In a society ridden with traditional constraints against women, it appears that this revolution is one born and supported by men and women alike.

Not only are women leading the protests and attending to the wounded, women are also active politically in the discussion spheres online and on the ground.

In fact, in Change Square, the launching point of Yemen’s revolution there are families that camped with women and children who are determined not to return home until president Saleh leaves his. It has become personal. And the last thing you want to do is get on the bad side of a Yemeni woman.

At the beginning of the protests, women used to stay in isolated quarters and usually kept to themselves. More than once when I was visiting in the early days, as soon as I appeared at the entrance to the camp two or three men with badges found me and escorted me smoothly across the crowds shouting, “Woman coming…make way!” I found myself weaving my way, out of breath, following my guides feeling protected yet confused… where are they taking me?

In less than seven minutes I found myself approaching a cloth barrier and the men gestured to me to walk the remaining few meters on my own as I was entering a men-free zone.

They were bewildered when I refused to be tucked under the cloth barrier. I thanked them for their protection but explained that I wanted to take a walk around the protest grounds and get a feeling of how things are, not only in the women’s corner which I had already visited recently.

“I am a journalist.” I said and it made all the difference. Suddenly I was given all the freedom to walk and talk to whoever I wanted within those sacred grounds of Change Square, including the women’s corner.

Today, women in Change Square are everywhere. They are no longer confined to that section and they often take the stage to announce or comment on something. Women are there serving food, educating others on their rights or legal issues, or just being there.

It was amazing how there seemed to be a sense of liberation and purpose. It took the tens of thousands living in Change Square less than three months to change their ways and build on each other’s strengths, whether men or women.

Indeed the women’s corner is still there, much larger now that there are more women, but it is not intended to isolate them anymore.

On Friday April 15, President Saleh made a nasty comment on those women. He viciously asked what they were doing there, sleeping in the streets between all these men. His comments angered thousands of women who marched the following day for hours warning him that he is out of line and that they will not leave until he does.

There is great potential in the women of Yemen as peace makers and as human power for rebuilding the country. This is an opportunity to help Yemeni women break the chains that have held them back for many decades.

The time is now, and the women of Yemen are ready.

Breaking News: Women and children targeted by government forces in Yemen

Yemeni government forces have killed 24 children in their crack down on protesters since “Bloody Friday” on March 18, according to UNICEF

Two minors were killed during the massacre in Sana’a several weeks ago, and the growing unrest has led to further child casualties.

Yemenis have petitioned international organizations, including UNICEF, to put pressure on the Saleh government to cease using violence against children.

Women bringing a similar petition to the UN Development Program headquarters in Sana’a were attacked by government forces, Maha*, a SAVE contact in Sana’a, said. Women initiated the petition to condemn the deaths of protesters in the southern city of Taiz, and were bringing it to the UNDP, when government forces stopped their cars and assaulted drivers and passengers.

Protests bring about social change and unity

Women continue to be very active in the protests in Yemen, and their treatment in Change Square in Sana’a is symbolic of a new social atmosphere in Yemen.

“Women are treated with grace and respect in the square... Usually in Yemen, women get harassed all the time, but in Change Square nobody touches me," said Afrah Nasser on her blog.

Tawakkol Karman, a leading female activist, stated in an article in The Guardian that the protests have brought all sections of Yemeni society together like never before. Most Yemenis agree that the protest have provided them with a common cause which overshadows their differences.

“Protesters come from all segments of Yemeni society, united by one demand - to oust Saleh,” writes Nasser. “Contrary to what the president has been predicting about a civil war looming on the horizon in the event of his resignation, representatives of different tribes are protesting together at Change Square, acting in complete harmony. In fact, there have even been reports of tribes making peace and resolving long-running grudges as a result of this new atmosphere of unity.”

However, activists caution that these newly-founded bonds may break apart, as differences are reasserted and fights for power commence, should the protests succeed in toppling Saleh's regime. “We need to give people a new cause, give them ownership of the revolution, and involve youth in plans for the future,” said Nadia Al-Sakkaf, editor of The Yemen Times. “This is the time for a stronger civil society and media to develop. It is a turning point. If we don’t seize this chance, we will regret it.”

Gulf Cooperation Council rejected by opposition parties
Today the opposition parties announced their refusal to take part in the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative to mediate between the government and protesters. The initiative was viewed with suspicion by some, as Saudi Arabia, a leader of the Gulf Cooperation Council, is traditionally a supporter of President Saleh. Young people in Change Square asked the opposition parties not to accept the proposal, as they are discontent with any deal that would grant Saleh immunity from conviction for the alleged corruption and crimes committed during his 32-year presidency. They also worry that intervention by Saudi Arabia could mean the replacement of Saleh with a similar regime.

“Yemenis and Saudis love each other as neighbours,” Maha said. “But many people do not want intervention. They are afraid that the Saudis will find someone else who will just follow their line.”

Nadia Al-Sakkaf, editor of Yemen Times, expressed hope for the initiative despite the early failures. “Saudi Arabia is our big brother. Although these talks got off to a rocky start, they could still be successful, depending on how strongly other countries, like the USA, push.”

Intervention in Yemeni politics is a touchy subject, and Qatar is today coming under fire from Yemeni pro-government protesters. Demonstrators outside the Qatar embassy in Sana’a are condemning Qatar’s loud and uncompromising calls for Saleh’s exit.

Neglected southern provinces should provide next president and a Yemeni first lady, some say

With talks halted, violence continues in various cities of Yemen. In Sana’a yesterday, one protester was killed and one was critically injured, during huge protests against violence in Taiz, around 200 kilometers south of Sana’a. Taiz continues to experience severe unrest, with several killed on Friday.

Taiz suffers from underdevelopment due to insufficient investment by the central government. There is mass youth unemployment and a poor infrastructure. Nurses in the town complain of a lack of medical supplies to treat wounded protesters. The poor economic and social structures fan the fire of revolution in Taiz.

In fact, there has been some talk that a new president should be from the south of Yemen. Since unification of North and South Yemen in 1990, the Southern provinces have been ruled over by a Northern president. Maha suggested that it might be good for Yemen to have a more open-minded, well-educated president from the South. Women are also hoping that Yemen may for the first time have a visible First Lady; President Saleh has never presented any of his female relatives to the public. “It would be great for Yemen to have a First Lady,” said Maha. “It would have a good impact on all our work, and we would hopefully have a role model for Yemeni women, and someone to turn a greater focus on women’s issues.”

*Name has been changed

BREAKING NEWS: Yemeni women call on international community to support their urgent demand for inclusion

Women in Yemen claim that international pressure is essential if their voices are to be included in decisions about the country’s future.

Figures such as Tawakkol Karman have become increasingly prominent in Yemen’s current uprisings. Women are playing a key role in mobilizing protesters and leading demands for change. However, the experience of Egypt shows that women are too often forgotten once revolutionaries have achieved their goal.

“The international community must put pressure on Yemen’s decision-makers to include women in any new administration; otherwise they will not do it,” said Nadia Al-Saqqaf, editor of the Yemen Times. “There has to be a fair recognition of the part women are playing. The international community should use a carrot and stick approach to encourage decision-makers to include women.”

The participation of civil society, youth and intellectuals in an emerging administration will be decisive for Yemen’s future, Nadia adds. She is hoping for a presidential council that will carry out the transfer of power under a clear mandate, and for extensive financial support to flow into Yemen. The country’s economy has been hit hard by the protests, and Nadia predicts that recovery will take years.
However, the protests in Yemen seem to be far from over. Over the last two days, deadly clashes in Taiz, a city in the south of Yemen, have left at least 19 dead and hundreds injured. The clashes occurred when protesters – many of them students at Taiz University - marched on the town hall, apparently in an attempt to occupy the building. Government forces stopped them, using bats, daggers and a brand of tear gas, which some have claimed is illegal under international law. Facebook has lately been inundated with videos and images of the attacks.

Opinions differ as to who was at fault in these clashes. Although many believe the government response was disproportionate, some Yemenis believe that the protesters’ actions were too aggressive, worrying that the violence will jeopardize dialogue and be used by Saleh as an excuse to stay on.

Sana’a has seen further disturbances today, with the New York Times reporting that tribesmen loyal to Saleh have clashed with soldiers who have joined the opposition, leaving three dead.

There are ongoing skirmishes and stone-throwing between government supporters and anti-government protesters in Sana’a. Some streets of the capital are in lock-down mode due to frequent clashes – shops and businesses are shut, while many residents have evacuated.

Maha*, another contact in Yemen, says that many Yemenis are “thrilled” by the increased pressure that the USA is exerting on Saleh to step down. However, many are worried that Yemen may end up in a similar position to Libya. President Saleh’s administration has agreed to attend talks with opposition leaders in Riyadh. Locals view this initiative with skepticism, believing that little progress will be made. Saleh is also expected to demand diplomatic immunity for himself and his family for the rest of his life if he is to stand down. But it is unlikely that Yemenis would accept such a compromise. “Saleh should pay for what he has done to the country,” said one Sana’a resident.

Fears are increasing that the unrest in Yemen is paving the way for radical forces to gain a stronger foothold in the country. Women, as strong advocates for dialogue, democracy and non-violence, must be included in government, in order to create a safe arena for moderate voices. Saleh has said that he wants to leave Yemen in safe hands: a responsible, accountable and stable government requires the participation of the whole of society, both male and female.

*Name has been changed

Yemeni Women Find Their Voices

In the traditional Yemeni culture, women are often not heard. However, many are now taking an active part in the uprisings. This article was originally published on the website of the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR), written by Afrah Nasser.

Traditionally in Yemen, women are – literally – not allowed to raise their voices. In peaceful circumstances, even calling out in the street to attract someone’s attention is considered unacceptable behaviour. But now, in the protests, it is very much welcomed and there is an amazing response when we raise our voices.

Everybody acknowledges that yes, we do have a voice, and the role of women in this uprising is increasing day by day as we enter a new time of freedom for everyone.

Women’s participation in this revolution started on a very small scale. There were only about ten women in Sana’a’s Change Square when the pro-democracy protests started. But with each day, it has been noticeable how the numbers of women grew as female protesters brought their sisters, cousins, friends. The number multiplied incredibly. Women are treated with grace and respect in the square. When I go there, I am treated like a VIP. Usually in Yemen, women get harassed all the time, but in Change Square nobody touches me. It is the safest place in Sana’a for women.

And life is indeed challenging for Yemeni women, every day. We constantly fight to claim our rights at home, in the street, at work. In any kind of field, a woman has to increase her efforts hugely to succeed. For instance, a 19-year-old cousin of mine won a scholarship to study in Germany and her brother refused to let her go. After a big fight, she had no choice but to give in.

If a man makes one per cent effort, a woman needs to make 200 per cent effort to get the same result. I work as a journalist and I am the only woman in the newsroom. Even there my colleagues find it hard to accept that I do go to places dominated by men to report.

There is some political participation by women, but it is very timid - women still live in a prison of their own fear. We are not very politically aware. It is a process and we are still at the very beginning. There are a few women politicians and about 18 months ago President Ali Abdullah Saleh instituted a 15 per cent quota of seats for women – but there aren’t enough women politicians to fill it.

But despite this women have been participating in the protests to an unbelievable extent. The female protesters come from all sectors of Yemeni society - women who do not have their faces covered, like me, and others are much more conservative. They are coming to an awareness that they have to be a huge part of building this country. We gain in confidence and women begin to think that they have to have a voice, a place in this new society - something that has never happened before.

Talking to other friends of mine, we feel we are revolting against our parents too. It’s a double revolution, inside our homes as well as in Change Square. Each one of us faces resistance from our parents, who demand to know why we think change is so important. Many of our parents are devoted to the president and the old regime, and they are opposed to us taking part in the demonstrations. So we face oppression both at home and in the public sphere.

The extremism and violence Saleh predicts will sweep Yemen without him is just propagan da. None of that will happen and I don’t see the danger of a civil war. I would like to see a peaceful transfer of power and the beginning of a new, democratic process, to have the same result here as in Egypt and Tunisia.

I am not worried that there will be violence like there is now in Libya. There is no way things will deteriorate here to that extent. The violence last week in which more than 50 people were killed won’t be repeated, I don’t think.

I am worried about what the future holds – not because of the fear of violence, but because of the uncertainty. But when I go to Change Square I see the harmony and tolerance between the different protesters, a sign that a peaceful change is possible.

Nadia Al-Saqqaf, SAVE Yemen, on PBS Newshour

Nadia Al-Saqqaf, editor of the Yemen Times and representative of SAVE Yemen appeared on PBS Newshour on March 24 to give an insight into the demands of the protestors in Yemen, and apprehensions about the future.

Watch the full episode. See more PBS NewsHour.

The Jasmine revolution has made one thing very clear: Women are today a force to reckon with.

SAVE, for the last two years has been propagating one thing: ‘Say No to Violent Extremism’- no matter who is behind it - state, clergy, extremist organizations or individuals. The Jasmine revolution has thrown up a number of female role models who prove that women are change makers that propagate this philosophy, says Archana Kapoor, SAVE India.

The Yemeni Ambassador to India, Khadija Radman Mohamed Ghanem, a woman, is one such example. On March 22, 2011, after the death of 52 Yemeni civilians at the hands of government forces, Khadija declared openly her support for the protesters. In fact the 57-year-old Kahdija, who came to India in 2010,sent a statement to the Al Arabiya TV channel saying: “We, ambassador of Yemen and Yemen’s diplomatic corps, declare our support for the peaceful youth revolution in Yemen and their demand for transition in the country after the situation worsened in a very painful manner...We cannot accept it or justify it.”

The statement also said, “We will continue our assignment as member of the diplomatic corps of Yemen,” signed by the ambassador and four of her diplomatic colleagues. Kahdija was deputy minister for women’s affairs in Yemen.

I think this is the kind of courage we need to reject violence. The Jasmine revolution has made one thing very clear: Women are today a force to reckon with. The scent of the Jasmine Revolution which spread like wild fire in the Arab world, clearly reflects the important role that women can and have played in ousting and fighting violence.

Before the revolution in Tunisia, the only reference to women was to the First Lady, Laila Al Trabelsi, and her excesses. She collected real estate, villas and bank accounts, unlike the First lady of Philippines Imelda Marcus, who only collected shoes! The protests grew with women coming out onto the streets in full force, and breaking down stereotypes. Women were on the frontlines of the protests chanting slogans like “Bread, water, and no Ben Ali”. The most popular slogan on the streets was “No to the Trabelsis who looted the budget”.

In Egypt we saw images of women moving along side men, protesting, shouting and spending nights at the Tahrir square. Women from all walks of life- poor, rich, middle class, with heads covered or uncovered, Christians and Muslims- all demanded the ouster of Hosni Mubarak. They relentlessly faced the batons of the police, the bullets and the tear gas. Postings on Facebook and Twitter only helped their cause and got more and more women on the streets.

Today Bahrain, Yemen, Syria and more countries in West Asia are going through a crisis. The women of the world need to unite and provide comfort to those whose children are being slaughtered- killed indiscriminately for asking for their rights. Today we all need to be part of this campaign...we all need to say NO to violence and extremism!!

BREAKING NEWS: SAVE Yemen, Massive explosion kills 160

A massive explosion hit an ammunitions factory today in the town of Jaar, Abyan, among rising fears that Islamist extremism will be used as an excuse for President Saleh to stay in power. Maha* told us that 160 people have so far died due to the blast, many of them women and children. Yemeni people expect the government to announce that Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is behind the incident, although most believe it is a plot by the government. According to people on the ground, government soldiers had left the factory, leaving it open for locals to raid. The blast took place while the civilians were inside the factory. “Yemenis think this is one of Saleh’s plays to prove to the international community that Yemen will descend into chaos if he steps down,” said Maha. “Saleh is playing the Al-Qaeda card.”

Safe hands could be a woman’s hands: protesters support Amat Al Alim Alsoswa for president

President Saleh now appears on television daily to make statements about his intentions. The latest reports show that he withdrew an offer to step down within 6 months, saying that he will only leave if he can turn the country over to “safe hands”.

Speculation that those hands could be female has increased over the last few days. Although many at first identified Tawakkol Karman as a strong option for change in Yemen, support has increased for another candidate: Amat Al Alim Alsoswa. Alsoswa is famous for being one of the only women to reach high government postings in Yemen. She was educated in Egypt and the USA, and became Yemen’s first woman undersecretary for the Ministry of Information, first woman ambassador to the Netherlands, and first woman minister for Human Rights. She is now Director of the UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Arab States. “Alsoswa is very respected in Yemen,” said Maha. “Yemen has been ruled by queens before, and those were the best times this country knew. It would be great for us to be ruled by a woman in modern times. I doubt that it is possible, but who knows; during a revolution, miracles can happen.”

Women’s role in the protests is changing day by day. Women have begun to stay overnight in Change Square, sleeping in tents. Such practices would never normally be accepted in Yemen. Some Yemenis express their concern over Facebook: “One protester wrote on Facebook that he respects all the women who have joined the revolution, but that he does not like the fact that women are staying in the tents,” said Maha.

Discontent with international intentions

Certain segments of the Yemeni society have expressed their wish for the international community to ask Saleh to step down. After observing the revolutions in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, Yemeni youth leaders expected a stronger reaction from other governments in support of their drive for change. The revolutionaries continue to reject Saleh’s claim that the country will descend into civil war, should he step down. They emphasize that, although there are a predicted 60 million guns in Yemen, the revolution has been peaceful from the beginning.

Sandstorm increases difficulties in Sana’a as revolution drifts towards stalemate

A huge sandstorm hit Sana’a yesterday, where people are still protesting by the thousands in the streets. Young people in Change Square are wearing masks and struggling to breathe in the dust-filled air. The sandstorm began on Sunday, and is predicted to continue for three days. Maha, our contact in Yemen, says it is one of the strongest she has seen. Some schools have stopped teaching due to the sand, but protesters remain undeterred.

Other sections of the population are beginning to lose their optimism. “Yemen will collapse economically before it collapses politically,” commented one Yemeni professor. Prices have increased exponentially since the beginning of the revolution. Maha estimates that the price of gas has gone up 50%. Gas is now hardly available outside the black market. “I do not know how they are surviving,” Maha said of the large number of Yemenis who live in poverty. Many of them live on less than 1 US dollar a day.

*Name has been changed.

BREAKING NEWS: SAVE Yemen, Latest Update

Out of the uncertain situation, a solution involving civil society and youth leaders is emerging, along with the suggestion that a woman, Tawakkol Karman, could be Yemen's best choice for president.



Tawwakol Karman, Yemeni human rights
activist, journalist and politician.
Image: Khaled Abdullah/Reuters

Tomorrow will be a big day for Yemen. Opposition parties are calling for a march on the presidential palace despite President Saleh’s declaration of emergency powers banning protests. Some youth leaders are advocating for protesters to stay in Change Square, refusing the call from the political opposition parties to march. However, neither seems to be deterred by the prohibition on demonstrations, and protesters see Friday as the day that they will definitively demand Saleh’s resignation.

A solution to the power vacuum
Maha (name changed), one of our partners in Yemen, reported today that Yemenis on the ground are refusing Saleh’s announcement that civil war will ensue if he steps down. “Many are saying that that claim is ridiculous, and that Saleh is just trying to stop change happening,” said Maha.

Claims of impending civil war surround the defection of powerful military leaders to the opposition, including General Ali Mohsen Al-Ahmar, President Saleh’s half brother and military commander of Yemen’s north-western area. He has pledged his support to the protesters. “Many are skeptical about al-Ahmar’s defection to the opposition,” said Maha. “They think that this is just a way for those who are already in power to retain their positions.”

Protestors and leaders from several opposition parties have now come up with a proposal to fill the power vacuum should Saleh step down soon. They have suggested a “traditional committee” made up of leading civil society figures and youth leaders. No names have so far concretely emerged, but they are certain that they would not allow military figures to be part of the committee. Maha says that there are many qualified people in Yemeni society who would be able to fill this committee.

Women’s role in a new Yemen
Yemen has modeled much of its revolution on Egypt’s experiences. Although many women were outspoken and instrumental in Egypt’s protests, no women have so far been consulted in the process of constitutional change. “This is related to our Arabic culture,” said Maha. “It is very sad, especially because women have worked so hard, and their voices have been so powerful both in Egypt and Yemen. I do not have much hope that a committee in Yemen would have women representatives. Women are often used as a card, played when it is needed, such as during elections or revolutions, then forgotten when men have achieved what they were striving for.”

One woman whose voice is listened to by Yemenis is Tawakkol Karman. Lately, a debate has started on facebook, with many advocating for Karman to become Yemen’s president. “She had a lot of support before the revolution, and many people – both men and women – think she is the best choice. She has a vision for Yemen’s future. She is brave and has a record of social justice. Her popularity has hugely increased since she became active in the revolution. Of course, there are also many who make impolite comments and say that it is a stupid idea that a woman should rule over Yemen’s men.” So far, Karman herself does not appear to have commented on the possibility of herself taking a position in a new order. Much of the debate has taken place over Facebook, as it is a safer arena to express opinions, but Maha says there are also conversations about Karman’s future taking place in the streets.

Who is Tawakkol Karman?
Tawakkol Karman is the 32 year old chairwoman of Women Journalists Without Chains and a human rights activist. In the last elections in 2003, Karman won a seat in parliament along with 12 other female members of Islah, the main opposition party that stands for reforms. In 2005, Karman founded Women Journalists Without Chains in defense of human rights and freedom of expression including the right to public protests. She has been in the forefront in agitating against a draft amendment to the Constitution of Yemen to allow the president to remain in office for life.

Karman has already been arrested more than once this year for her activities in support of revolution. In her advocacy work she is not only a loud voice supporting women’s rights, but also addresses unemployment and corruption in Yemeni society as a whole.

BREAKING NEWS UPDATE: SAVE Yemen

Our partner in Yemen has today updated us further on the situation in Sana’a, emphasizing the role women are playing in the protests and informing us about the massive protests planned for Friday.

Yemen has in the last few days witnessed a deluge of resignations. Saleh's tribespeople, who are in a very powerful position in government and military institutions, have resigned and announced that they are joining the Youth Revolution.

Yet, the resignation of Ali Mohsen AL-Ahmar, Saleh's half brother, was surprising for all Yemenis and it has stirred much debate. Many think his resignation comes late, and they condemn the 'dirty' history of Al-Ahmar and his role in the Sada'a war. They picture him as a criminal, holding him to be a member of Saleh's family that should be held accountable for a number of crimes and corruption.

Youth in "Change Square" have doubts about many of the late resignations of high-military officials who have been known for corruption and "black history". Young people are afraid that such people aim to hijack the revolution to seize power. However, some youth have welcomed such new alliances that will support the revolution, asking their peers to forget the past and start a new era.

Women and the Watan Coalition

Women are instrumental in the protests. Along with their children, they take to the streets to join protests in Change Square, and they organize sit-ins. Significantly, women stay up late (until 10 or 11pm) in the protestors' camps; something that is not common in the conservative Yemeni society. For moral support, women cook and supply food to the protesters; they write slogans and verses on the bread such as "Go out" or "People want the regime to be ousted". Significantly, women and men are mixing in the camps. "It is amazing. Here in Change Square, despite the huge number of protesters, I do not get harassed or criticized for being who I am. I am with my hair, not wearing the Yemeni Abya'a, but I feel welcomed and I feel that everybody here accepts the others. I cannot find such a thing anywhere but here in Change Square,” an-open-minded Yemeni lady excitedly said.

Yemeni women activists have established the 'Watan' Coalition'; Watan means "Nation", through which they support the protesters by all means. Apart from providing food, they are also ensuring that protestors have access to medical supplies and clinics. They have an active page on Facebook too.

Women made up a fantastic picture on Sunday when a massive (with around a million attendees) funeral for last Friday's 52 martyrs took place. Women even prayed along with men for the souls of the martyrs. One woman happily commented "It was the first time I see Yemeni women pray in public. Thank God I lived to see such a day". Although usually in the protests, women make up about 5% of the protestors, on Sunday the crowds were at least 20% women.

Despite many fears, Yemeni women are so happy to be part of the coming change and the coming "New Yemen". They believe that they, along with Yemeni men, could shape how the 'New Yemen' will look – a Yemen in which women will be an active factor.

Facebook

Like in Egypt and Tunisia, Facebook has become the most important medium of communication, and revolutionaries use it to give updates from Change Square. "Now, we do not depend so much on TV or newspapers. Instead, the Media Committee on the ground in Change Square either in Sana’a or Taiz update their compatriots with breaking news, and by uploading videos of the activities of the protesters." Maha commented.

Some think that Facebook users are few in Yemen when compared to Egypt or Tunisia. The Arab Social Media Report indicated that the percentage of Yemeni Facebookers is only 0.74% (the lowest in the Arab Region). However, the message is also being spread through traditional means, and is reaching the countryside as well as the main cities. Maha emphasizes that this revolution is supported by all social classes, not just the educated elite.

At the moment, Yemeni Youth are trying to come up with a clear vision that pictures what post-revolution Yemen would look like. It is clear that the youth groups are demanding a “civic and democratic" state. They have strongly insisted that the New Yemen will not accept a take-over by anybody from the "Al-Ahmar" family, Saleh’s tribe, or any military personalities.

As a next step, the young people are calling for a massive demonstration on this coming Friday. Protestors will march towards the Presidential Palace. All roads leading towards the Palace are currently blocked by soldiers and tanks. Maha is hopeful that this protest will not be countered with violence. She thinks it would be a huge mistake for Saleh’s regime to once again crack down on protestors, having witnessed the powerful emotional reaction to last Friday’s massacre. Leading figures of the revolution, including Tawakkol Karman, chairwoman of Women Journalists Without Chains and one of the leading voices of the revolution, have posted messages on their Facebook pages urging Yemeni citizens to take part in Friday’s demonstration.

Breaking News: SAVE Yemen

On March 21st, SAVE Global spoke with our Yemeni partner based on the outskirts of Sana’a about recent developments in the capital, how Yemeni youth view the revolution, and her hopes and fears for the coming days.

Daily Life

Maha (name changed), a university-educated woman, explained how her life has changed since this past Friday, when a bloody massacre left over 50 anti-government protesters dead. President Saleh immediately declared a state of emergency in Yemen, which has sought to restrict the movement of individuals and closed public schools and universities (private universities, including the Islamic Iman University, remain open). When she now wants to travel to Sana’a, Maha and her family must pass through a series of checkpoints, a reality she had never before experienced.

The current uprisings throughout Sana’a are beginning to take a severe toll on the Yemeni population, at least in the capital city. Yesterday, many private companies throughout Sana’a asked their employees to return home and remain indoors; as a substantial portion of Yemenis live on less than 2 dollars a day, however, the economic pressures the state of emergency is exerting on the population have led some to defy orders and seek work.

Change, But Who and How?

While hope and a fervent desire for change can be found among the revolutionary Yemeni youth, uncertainty about the future seems to be the pervasive emotion in the homes and camps throughout Sana’a. The resignation of former key government supporters, including a number of government Ministers and Ambassadors, has created a severe sense of unease among the revolutionary population. They also fear that should Saleh fall, his half-brother or another, similarly oppressive leader will seize power, such that a regime shift may occur without any true change or development on the ground.

A significant complicating factor in the Yemeni uprisings is that while the Yemeni youth desire change, they generally support neither the government nor the opposition forces. From the beginning, the opposition group has not pandered to the youth, and the youth did not pledge their support to them. Emblematic of this indecision is the growth of a youth group that calls itself ‘The Youth Group without a Political Party,’ which is currently gaining supporters throughout Sana’a. Maha fears that the majority of the young revolutionaries have no clear idea of what the desired outcome of the uprisings should look like, nor how this change should be achieved.

As in Egypt, no single young leader is emerging out of the unrest; however, unlike in Cairo, with a population of close to 20 million, many of whom are educated, only a small minority of the less than two million people who live in Sana’a are educated. This imbalance is hindering a common formulation of what post-revolution Yemen should look like; the agitation for change, without clear direction or even the present ability of an individual to emerge out of the masses and give direction, raises questions about how successful this movement can be. Maha strongly emphasized that Yemen and Egypt cannot be compared in their revolutionary paths, as Egypt’s revolutionary youths’ very poignant idea of and desire for democracy cannot be found reflected among the Yemeni youth.

Libya

In general, Yemenis support the Allied enforcement of a no-fly zone in Libya; they fear that if President Saleh is not removed, he will become a second Gaddafi. However, Yemenis are very concerned about the humanitarian consequences and are afraid that such external intervention could have a lasting effect on Libya and the Middle East in general. There are fears that the no-fly zone is the beginning of ‘a second Iraq,’ but those who are frustrated with Arab autocrats believe that there should be sacrifices in order to create change. responded that “the Yemenis feel that civilians are likely to die either way, and that it is better for civilians to die at the hands of the Allied forces than at the hands of crazy Gaddafi. They hope that Libyans will ultimately cultivate the fruits of their new revolution. ”

Western Media Focus

Western media have reported that Saleh’s tribe has rescinded his membership; when asked about how strongly this information is featured in the Yemeni media, Maha noted that it was only peripherally mentioned in the Sana’a press. Also of concern is that while the Western media have highlighted the role of Tawakkol Karman, a leading female activist who was kidnapped at the beginning of the unrest and who played a key role in the protests at the University of Sana’a, has been very quiet in recent days, even ending her text message campaign to other activists. Amal al Basha, the Executive Director of the Sisters Arab Forum, is instead slowly emerging as a very loud supporter of change.

Women

Women are playing a significant role in this uprising. They cook and supply food to the protesters, support their husbands, and also take to the streets themselves. Significantly, women and men are mixing in the camps.

Rise of Extremsim

Maha’s friend, a political analyst, yesterday identified Taliban who are beginning to infiltrate these camps. One of their first efforts is to segregate male and female protesters, claiming that the mixing of the genders is against religious law. These initial steps, combined with the Taliban’s growing presence in the camps, raises concerns about the rise of Islamist extremists to fill the vacuum being created by revolutionary agitation with no clear goal or leader.

Facebook

Facebook has become the most important medium for the youthful revolutionaries to communicate and exchange information; very few listen to or watch the news and/or read newspapers. Yesterday, a youth group began posting their demands on a Facebook page.

To read more about the situation on the ground in Yemen, visit the Yemen Times

Further up-to-date information about the uprisings in Yemen can be found on the BBC's website.

SAVE Yemen Thoughts on International Women's Day

A member of SAVE Yemen reflects on the unstable situation in the country and remembers the women of Yemen who will not be celebrating International Women's Day this year.

Tomorrow, March 8, women worldwide will celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. These women celebrate women’s successes and all their political, social and economic achievements. This global event is meant to connect all the women around the world and to highlight the inequalities that need redressing.

Yemen is going to celebrate it too and join the global events that will take place on such an occasion. However, this year and particularly at this time, things are different here. Despite all the challenges that it faces, Yemen lives in a historical and critical moment.

The Yemeni people are on alert as the wind of change has swept from Tunisia and Egypt to Yemen. Like other Middle Eastern countries, young people are the fuel of these new revolutions. Protests in Yemen (in Sana’a, Taiz, Aden and other Yemeni cities) become semi-daily and protesters’ camps occupy squares in those main cities. Killing and injuring protesters has darkened Yemeni lives but also pushed them to continue protesting.

In such an atmosphere, there is not much to say about March 8 and the desire to celebrate it becomes even less. In Yemen at present, people have stopped talking about pressing issues like illiteracy, poverty, unemployment or terrorism. The people, old and young, talk about change and how to topple Saleh’s regime. I wanted to collect some voices on the occasion of International Women’s Day, but all they wanted to talk about was “revolution” and “ousting the current regime”. One of my male colleagues ridiculously commented "what about having International MAN Day"!

In fact, I do not remember when Yemen started to celebrate International Women’s Day, but I have attended a number of these celebrations over the past few years. I do still remember last year’s celebration. It was a big conference in which women from all walks of life in Yemen came and participated. A number of papers were presented. Most of the papers were gender-based, addressing issues like inequality in political, social and economic life. I met a number of extraordinary and pioneering Yemeni women. On March 8 2010, I met Jennifer from the German embassy to whom I introduced SAVE Yemen and who then introduced SAVE Yemen to Yemen Gender Network and other activities. Jennifer has just left Yemen but on such an occasion I cannot forget such a wonderful woman, who is not a Yemeni, but she has given a lot of her time and effort to lift up the status of Yemeni women. Such women make us, Yemeni women, feel connected with other women globally.

"This International Women's Day, we should go to any village in Yemen and live one day with those hard-working women, honor them and show them some appreciation."

However, despite the advantages of celebrating the March 8, it saddens me that the majority of disadvantaged Yemeni women are left out. It saddens me that in these events, I just see those few educated and elite women. This is not representative of the majority of Yemeni women.

In Yemen the majority of women are illiterate and live in rural areas where they are less connected with media and information sources. Those women won't celebrate the March 8. They have simply never heard about this day, so it is meaningless to them. Actually many Yemeni women would be surprised to know that some countries observe the March 8 as a national holiday.

I feel deeply sad, not because of the meaninglessness of March 8 for most of Yemeni women, but for the hardships they still live in. These women are vulnerable because they are deprived of proper education, of access to health services, of economic independence, and of political and social empowerment.

I was talking to one of my friends who happened to be in Abyan (a Southern Yemeni governorate) where she met local women. Those who follow Yemeni news will know Abyan as a place where a number of terrorist incidents took place. I was really shocked to hear from her how the illiteracy of those women was exploited. The women were providing the terrorists with food and shelters without knowing their bad intentions. The women were simply told that they were guests, and as such they had to give them hospitality (hospitality to the guest is a must and a feature of Yemeni culture. It would be an insult if a guest received no hospitality). Those women live with guilt after knowing they hosted the killers and attackers. "I cannot believe I have indirectly taken part in killing innocent people. I will live with this guilt forever. We are simple illiterate women; we do not know how to differentiate between the terrorist and the innocent. We do not have a clue and nobody has advised us," one of those women explained.

Looking at such a tragic story, it re-enforces the importance of working with mothers. A global initiative that SAVE began last year under the Mothers for Change! campaign calls for counter-terrorism initiatives to work closely with mothers.

Finally, apart from holding conferences, workshops and similar events on International Women’s Day, I wish to celebrate it differently and do something concrete for women who are in need of support and empowerment. For example, if we could just go to any village in Yemen and live one day with those hard-working women, honor them and show them some appreciation.

I just wish on the day of 8th of March that we could connect the Yemeni women with their sisters around the globe - every Yemeni woman would wait for such a day impatiently. Will this day come?

SAVE Sisters Celebrate International Women's Day

Women without Borders / SAVE has gathered the voices of women from around the world to celebrate the occasion of the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. The below statements remind us of the strength and commitment of our sisters around the globe.

Edit Schlaffer, Executive Director of Women without Borders / SAVE
We are looking back on 100 years of global women’s commitment to making the world a better place for everyone - for women, men and children. It has certainly been an uphill struggle and our journey is not yet over. Women have shaped the most important movement of the 20th Century, changing the way we live together in families, in communities, and in the public arena. Women have proven that they carry a lot of moral authority- corruption is at its lowest levels when women are involved in decision making bodies, good governance is more often executed when women are walking the halls of power, and civil society led by women is challenging despotic regimes. This global female energy will contribute to positive change. Women without Borders is proud to be a part of these exciting developments.

Today we announce the new SAVE Witness Project, which puts a face to the tragic aftermath of terrorist attacks. The project will create a network of eyewitnesses who provide the young generation with alternative role models. These witnesses will share their stories to promote reconciliation rather than revenge. SAVE Global is creating new pathways for the young generation to gain access to testimonials of the consequences of terrorism, in order to expose them to the reality of the dangers of extremist ideologies. Women as mothers, educators, journalists, and activists will lead the way for this SAVE Global Counter-Extremism Education Campaign. Rather than implementing an educational campaign years after the occurrences, the SAVE Witness project seeks to act swiftly and comprehensively at the height of the threat of terrorist activities around the globe.

We wish you a happy International Women’s Day, and congratulate you for taking a stand, both in your own life and for the advancement of the women around you. Let us not forget: the personal is political!


Nadia Al-Saqqaf, SAVE Yemen member and editor of the Yemen Times
During my work as a journalist and activist I have come across so many stories of women in Yemen whose lives could have been much better had they known that they had alternatives. “I did not know who to turn to”, “I did not think that I had a choice”, “I was too weak to object”, “I was told that my opinion did not matter” are a few of many statements I hear over and over again. These women needed to feel that they are not alone in their ordeal and that they have the right to better treatment, support and a dignified life. Unfortunately during conflict, women and children are always the most vulnerable. They are the first to be sacrificed and the ones hit hardest by tragedies. But they are also the ones who put the pieces together and find strength to reconstruct families and societies in the aftermath of disaster. Tapping into women as a resource of strength for any society is a sure plan for progress and stability. Today, Yemen is going through political instability as the tide for change sweeps across the region. Surprisingly it is a number of women who, alongside men, are leading this change. Yet as always, politics is made by men and victories are negotiated by men. It is in such times that we need to pay close attention to the women of the society and involve them in the decisions that will shape the future of the country. We need to empower women and involve them in decision making so that they feel that they have an alternative and that their opinions matter.


May de Silva, SAVE Northern Ireland member and Director of Women into Politics
On the 100th anniversary of the launch of International Women’s day it is important that we recognize that millions of women worldwide are still being discriminated and disadvantaged though war and conflict. I hope that through our partnership working with Women without Borders-SAVE, we can work towards including women as agents of change just as our sisters achieved 100 years ago. In Northern Ireland we continue to support the women through education and awareness raising sessions so that the ethos survives for decades to come.

Archana Kapoor, SAVE India coordinator
Indian women are articulate, argumentative and empowered. Their voice is being heard and respected both at home as well as in the Indian Parliament. Increasingly, they are at the vanguard of civil society movements demanding justice for their sisters and others. Whether it is in Kashmir or the conflict ridden areas of northeast, it is they who suffer the most when blood is spilled on the streets or their sons are killed. It is important that the voices of our sisters in different parts of the country get louder and stronger, that they are heard. It is important that women believe in themselves and realize that they can make a difference in the way peace is negotiated. Women have to join forces and come out on the streets to fight atrocities, be it in Kashmir or Cairo! It is time to get into the driver’s seat. SAVE India is helping women do just this and more. It is helping women realize their potential to make a difference both at home and outside.

On this International Women's Day, I would like to congratulate all those women who showed the courage to raise their voices against the tyrant rulers in the Arab world. I do hope that soon SAVE’s efforts will be able to throw out those who promote extremist ideologies and spread fear through acts of terror.

Siham Abu Awwad, SAVE Palestine member
The woman that can deal with her pain can deal with anything. I believe as a woman, a mother and a sister that I have the power to change the situation through my humanity and my strength. I believe in my voice. My voice can reach everywhere, demanding a safe future for my kids and my nation through me as a woman. Just believe in yourself.

Power of the people

Yemen's recent protests have been small in comparison to the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt. Our parnter in Yemen and editor of the Yemen Times, Nadia Al-Saqqaf, asks whether the difference lies in culture, history, education or civil society.

Watching the news unfold in Tunisia, where mass demonstrations have recently forced the President to flee the country, creates mixed feelings in Yemen. Many of us are happy that the people of an Arab country are standing up for themselves and creating change in a peaceful manner. Personally, I am jealous, apprehensive and doubtful.

I am jealous of the Tunisian people’s strength and unity: how they managed to win the army over to their side.

I wonder whether something like this could happen in Yemen? Could the people revolt and demand dignity? And if they did, would the army be there to support them or would it instead be killing protestors and putting them in prison?

I fear that Yemenis would let each other down. The Tunisian protests began in a few towns in mid-December and spread in a scattered fashion. They were not organized by an opposition political party or by civil society organizations that herded them onto buses or paid for them to chant slogans as we see in Yemen.

Gradually more and more Tunisians took to the streets and joined hands in solidarity at each other’s suffering. There were in it together and knew that the way out required that they stood together united.

And I am also doubtful, doubtful whether Yemenis will stand up for themselves any time soon. Certainly not until they stop being sedated by qat and spending hours every day building castles in the sky. Do Yemenis really care about what is going on in their country?

Perhaps the fact that so many Yemenis are illiterate compared to the 100% literacy rate in Tunisia is a factor. But is feeling hunger, deprivation, and injustice dependant on education? Are educated people more sensitive to their physical and emotional needs than uneducated ones?

On the other hand Yemen has much stronger civil society than Tunisia with a more free and independent media and a semi-democratic system that allows for multiple political parties. Both of these were non-existent in Tunisia.

Or maybe it’s about history? Tunisians had their revolution 23 years ago compared to ours almost 50 years ago. Perhaps our revolution was so long ago that we’ve forgotten how to do it?

Yemenis are hungry, unemployed, uneducated, unhealthy and increasingly unhappy. How much lower do we need to sink before we stand up for ourselves and demand more respect from our rulers?

Originally published in Yemen Times on 15.01.2011

Much more to Yemen than what we see in the news

Yemen is often portrayed by the news media as a failed state and terrorist haven. Alice Hackmann, who recently returned from two years in Yemen as a reporter for the Yemen Times, tells the other side of the story.

First published in Common Ground News Service. Photos by Women without Borders / SAVE.

 The beautiful architecture of Sana'a, Yemen's capital city

The British media’s focus on a young British Muslim woman who stabbed a British Member of Parliament last month once again shines a gloomy spotlight on Yemen. According to The Guardian, Roshonara Choudhry, a 21-year-old student who stabbed the politician for supporting the war in Iraq, told the police: "I've been listening to lectures by Anwar al-Awlaki.... He's an Islamic scholar. He lives in Yemen."

As the media concentrates on al-Awlaki’s online sermons, his role in the launch of Al Qaeda’s new magazine, and the Yemeni government’s ongoing battle against Al Qaeda, the real Yemen has been drowned out. Yet it is this narrative – that of the vast majority of the population, not of a few hundred militants – that holds the key to better understanding, breaking stereotypes and perhaps ultimately less extremism.

Inside a coffee shop, near King’s Cross station in central London, British-born Yemeni Abubakr al-Shamahi, 21, sips his hot chocolate and talks passionately about his home country. Not once does he talk about extremism. Instead, he talks of corruption and his fear that donors’ money is not properly spent on long-term development, he laughs at Yemeni parents’ matchmaking, and he raves about the beauty of the old city of Sana’a. No one he knows has been influenced at all by the radical sermons of al-Awlaki.

This is the real Yemen. It is not al-Awlaki’s falsified narrative of a West-hating, militant-training Yemen. It is a country of over 22 million people – over 70 per cent of whom are under the age of 25 – struggling for development and the privilege to join the World Trade Organization. On Facebook, this is what the English-speaking youth in Yemen are telling the world. A Yemeni-Canadian, Issmat Alakhali, 32, attracted over 4,500 users to his page, “I know someone in Yemen and he/she is not a terrorist!” which he launched in January. More recently, Atiaf A., another young Yemeni, started a video project called “I’m Yemeni, I’m not a terrorist”.

And yet, in an interview last May, Al-Awlaki said that he enjoyed free movement among the tribes of Yemen because “the people of Yemen hate Americans.” This is not true. Most young Yemenis learn English because, apart from it being the international language of business, they also dream of emigrating to the United States or Europe to study or to work.

 

For the average young Yemeni, daily grievances are far more important than politics. Graduates hope to find a job. Young men struggle to accumulate enough jobs to be able to get married. New couples battle with price hikes. Nearly half of the population lives on less than two dollars a day and social development indicators – such as child malnutrition, maternal mortality and educational attainment – remain extremely poor, according to the UN’s World Food Program.

Yemeni children

In the north of the country, hundreds of thousands of Yemenis have been displaced by six rounds of war between the government and the Houthi rebels. In the south, a growing secessionist movement threatens the unity of the country, while each month thousands of refugees, asylum seekers and economic migrants arrive on the coast from the Horn of Africa. Nationwide, the next generation will struggle for water to drink as the country’s population continues to increase and its already depleted aquifers rapidly run dry.

Instead of focusing always on Al Qaeda, the international media should highlight the efforts of youth-led initiatives such as Resonate! Yemen, Me for My country, Ayoon Shabah (Arabic for “youth’s eyes”) and the Yemeni Children’s Parliament to tackle some of the country’s other issues. They should profile social entrepreneurs like Hayat al-Hibshi who set up the Assada Women’s Association to help girls from marginalised poor communities go to school.

The media should also highlight positive exchanges between the Muslim communities of Britain and Yemen, such as the British-Somali charity that helped to set up a day care centre for young refugee mothers in Sana’a earlier this year.

More media focus on positive community-led change in Yemen, instead of terrorism, would counter negative stereotypes of both Yemenis and Muslims in the West. The effect would be more respect for Muslims in the West, less feelings of alienation or anger among their children and, perhaps, less reason to listen to a radical preacher in the first place.

Yemen and the "packages of death": Women's changing role in extremist organizations.

Although one woman's name has been cleared, we must be vigilant about the changing role of women in extremist organizations. Fahmia Al-Fotih gives us a unique insight into Yemeni reactions to the package bombs and analyzes why extremist organizations target women to play key roles in promoting their ideologies.

 Photo: AFP/GETTY via www.telegraph.co.uk. Female students protest the arrest of Hanan Al-Samawi

It has been a year since the founding of the SAVE Yemen chapter and I was hoping to celebrate the 1^st anniversary of SAVE Yemen differently. 

But again, Yemen has been grabbing the international media headlines because of 'infamous' terrorist activities.

Last week’s package bombs mark the first incident of its kind in Yemen, as it involves a woman, a young 22-year old student. The computer science student, Hanan AL-Samawi, had never thought that she would be a suspect of terrorism. Neither did her family or her friends.

Despite the fact that the name of the student has been cleared, the incident has increased fears that AL Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) might have penetrated the university system. At the same time, Yemeni people and human rights activists expressed their fear that counterterrorism measures might be accompanied by violations of human rights.

The students at Sana'a University demonstrated in support of their colleague who, along with her sick mother, was detained by security (female soldiers of the Yemeni Counter Terrorism Unit. For more on this Unit, follow this link http://ht.ly/36tSy).  However, there are some who say that the girl was arrested and investigated by governmental and national bodies.

The 'packages of death' were a shock for everyone, but the shock was even bigger for Yemenis. The involvement of a woman in such an incident was highly provocative in a very conservative society where the names of women are not usually revealed in public, let alone mentioned in connection with such a heinous crime and across the international media.   

More importantly, the incident has raised questions about the possibility of recruiting women within AL Qaeda in Yemen, along a similar vein to Iraq's female suicide bombers or Chechnya’s Black Widows. Many have started to wonder if the time has come for us to start hearing about AL Qaeda’s women.

When Hanan's name was cleared, many speculated a man disguised in women’s clothes might have sent the bomb packages using the personal information of the university student. Others say it might have been a woman seeking revenge (perhaps whose husband was killed by local or foreign security). 

Analysts believe that recruiting women into AL Qaeda in Yemen is contradictory to the religious and ideological beliefs of the organization. AL Qaeda believes in women’s traditional role centered on the family and house, and forbids male-female interaction. However, the call by AL Qaeda’s leaders in Iraq for women to take part in suicide bombing operations marks a turning point in the organization's ideologies and beliefs. The calls for women to join the Jihad are continuing. Some people ironically commented that 'there are some vacancies now within the AL Qaeda organization'.

Terrorists are aware that they are targets and thus their mobility becomes restricted by the need to stay undercover. From this stems the need to use women in the implementation of terrorist operations. In conservative societies, women are less suspicious than men.

Women have played - and still play - an essential role within the organization through logistical support (shelter and food for instance), preaching and spreading AL Qaeda ideologies.

Nowadays, the role of women has surpassed the 'traditional' role and goes beyond the provision of food and shelter. Undeniably, women play a vital role in promoting extremist and terrorist ideologies among community members and mobilizing and allocating money and human resources.

More surprisingly, in recent years, we have started to hear about the key role of women in electronic media in this regard. Alarmingly, a study has revealed that 40% of websites that promote extremist ideologies or who sympathize with AL-Qaeda are run by young women who are between 18-25 years old. The most well-known of those women is Saudi-born Om Osama who, along with her tech-savvy female staff, was running a magazine until she was arrested.  Of course, there are blogs, chat rooms and forums through which recruitment for AL Qaeda is taking place.

Again, a woman to become a suspect in a terrorist act is a new phenomenon in Yemen. Saudi Arabia, however, has already seen three high-profile cases of women becoming involved in terrorist acts and having links with AL Qaeda. The Saudi authorities have captured two of these women (Heela AL-Qaseer and Om Osama). The third - Wafa'a AL-Shahri – escaped from Saudi Arabia to join her husband in AL Qaeda in Yemen.

Yet, the positive thing, I think, is that people have seriously started to question the role of women in fighting terrorism and challenging extremism, which in turn will strengthen the position of SAVE and its mission.

Seeing these events, it is difficult to be anything but pessimistic, but I have faith that there is a hope or miracle out there to save Yemen. That hope or miracle stems from Yemen’s peaceful people, particularly its women.

"Me... Against Violent Extremism" Student Art Projects in Yemen

Student participants at Raba'a Al-Adawia school for girls in Sana'a, Yemen.

Under the slogan “Me…Against Violent Extremism,” SAVE Yemen and Raba'a Al-Adawia School organized a workshop for female students from different grades. In the workshops, the girls drew their perspectives about terrorism and extremism.

SAVE Yemen trainers Fatima Al-Zuhairy, principal of Raba’a Al-Adawia, Noor Baabad, a Minister in the Department of Social Affairs, and Fahmia Al-Fotih', SAVE Yemen Coordinator, facilitated the workshop and observed the students’ outcomes.

In the beginning of the workshop, Ms. Al-Zuhairy had a dialogue with the participating students in which she measured the students' level of understanding about “terrorism and extremism.” She also discussed with them the negative impact of terrorist activities on their personal lives, communities, and beloved country. Ms. Al-Zuhairy explained to the young girls the importance of their roles in building peace and rejecting intolerance and negative practices as the future mothers and leaders.

 Ms. Baabad talked to the young participants stressing the important roles that young people can play in developing their countries; she told them that development could not be achieved unless there is peace and accepting of other cultures.

Ms. Al-Fotih expressed gratitude to the school's administration and to the student participants, hoping that their noble participation in rejecting violent extremism would move beyond the workshop to their families and their communities.

At the end of the workshop, around 18 students managed to come up with a number of portraits through which they depicted their strong hopes for peace and fears of bombings and insecurity. Some have pictured a peaceful village of houses demolished by a bombing and others portrayed suicide bombers destroying all lives.

An example of a student's response to violent extremism through art.

This students' campaign is just of one of activities that SAVE Yemen is carrying out.

Report by SAVE Coordinator Fahmia al-Fotih'

The Ghost of Terrorism in Yemen, by Fahmia al Fotih'

The whole Yemeni society was rocked last week when a high-school graduate blew himself up in front of the British ambassador convoy. Thank God that the ambassador was not hurt—only three passersby were slightly injured. It might be true that such a horrific act is not the first of its kind in Yemen, but the reactions of Yemeni people were outraged by such a crime that is considered a new phenomenon for Yemenis.


This looming act has occupied all the daily newspapers, TV and Radio programs, and even in ordinary people's chit-chats. Indeed, it has replaced and put off the heated debates on child brides issue that have been the most controversial topic in Yemen for weeks.


The attack was condemned nationwide by all the Yemeni society segments alike. I still remember my grandma' reaction: she held her head between her hands and exclaimed, "That young boy must be insane! He is going to hell!" At the moment, a group of students have started touring seven governorates to raise awareness about the threat that terrorism is posing among youth.


It might be true that the violent act was not the first of its kind in Yemen, but in a way it was surprising. People here were all caught up in and overwhelmed by their own problems, which has forced them to unconsciously forget about al-Qaeda and terrorists. But such time-to-time violent acts come to wake them up and remind them about the ghost that haunts us and which is more fatal!!


Until now, nobody has claimed the responsibility of the attack despite the fact that Yemeni security bodies have confirmed that the attack had al-Qaeda style. But I doubt that as first, the attacker had primitive explosive materials and second, we did not hear anything from al-Qaeda. If it was al-Qaeda, they would be boasting about it!!! It is not al-Qaeda style!! That increases our fears and worries.


Even more, it becomes obvious that it is difficult to identify what a terrorist looks like! I was staring into the photo of the young suicide bomber examining his facial features in attempt to find criminal hints. I have always thought that criminals and terrorists have “bad guy” marks and that they could be more or less recognized by their facial expressions and characteristics (I guess I am very much influenced by the bad guys in Hollywood movies). But Othman's face, the suicide bomber, had the same innocent features that I see in the majority of young people of his age! Carrying the school bag and pretending to jog had added more innocence to his character on the day of attack. That is why, I think, the master terrorists chose him for this dreadful act.


I have been reading and reading all the news related to Othman’s life and trying to analyze all stories that talked about Othman’s life. He excelled in his studies (usually terrorists tend to target and recruit smart young people). His father said that he did not know his son's friends and Othman used to spend periods away from home. It seems that there was a stage when there was no communication between the son and his parents. With whom did Othman stay in Marib, where he was supposedly trained as a terrorist? How did he end up in Marib? For sure, Othman must have gone through stages of radicalization. If a correct intervention was made at any stage, Othman might have not chosen the radical path that led to death. Othman's friends say that he did not have the guts to kill a fly!!! How was he then able to go and explode himself? Othman, according to the news, did not trigger the explosive but somebody else did it from far away.


Yet still I feel there is something missing and nobody can explain except for the ones who were close to him, like his mother. I am curious to meet his mother and learn more about him. It is essential to know and study the details and lives of these suicide bombers so we can learn how to protect more young people.


Without a doubt, there are many factors intertwined here. It is not just the family role here, there is also Othman's institute, which happens to be AL-Eman University, which is believed to be the extremists' academia. Was it a coincidence? It was reported that even the department which Othman was attending is teaching Islamic teachings and Shara'iah! The violent act carried out by one of its graduates has nothing to do with Islam. One of the core teachings of Islam is that life is valued, and taking one's own life is one of the biggest sins. Besides, the one who kills himself is guilty of a big crime.


There are ample misunderstandings about jihad and about Islam, and the majority of mosques reinforce these misconceptions. Add to that an educational curriculum that is full of jihad and calling for violence instead of highlighting the peaceful side of Islam that calls for tolerance and respecting the other. There is a dire need for overall reform for our school curricula, and our mosques need open-minded and tolerant preachers.


Yemenis already have enough problems and such violent acts only worsen the situation and make it more complicated. Strengthening security measures and carrying preemptive actions are not enough to dry up the terrorism sources and end up radicalization.


The attack of course has spread fear and terror among the foreigners as well as Yemenis but at the same time this case poses a number of question marks and challenges. Parents find themselves in a puzzle. Some wonder what the hell makes these young people finish their lives in a second at an age when they are just blossoming! Most importantly, parents start to seriously question how they can protect their young and their beloved ones from the ghost of terrorism and from falling in the hands of terrorists! Many questions that just leave one wondering: when will the day come when we can all live in a terror-free world?