Alone and Forgotten: Injured Yemeni Soldiers Persist in Egypt

*The past year has been agony for a group of war-wounded Yemeni soldiers. As part of national medical and financial assistance to wounded soldiers, many were flown out to Egypt to receive treatment. Most ended up stranded as financial assistance quickly dried up for the soldiers, including those interviewed, among others. Unable to leave due to the severity of their injuries and lack of funds, soldiers describe being forgotten by the government they fought for. Due to ongoing economic strains and instability in Yemen, wounded soldiers are not a priority for the current government as it is logistically and financially unable to meet its prior obligations to its soldiers.

Sami, 25, is one of a group of soldiers living in a shared apartment in Cairo. He came to Egypt several months ago after receiving initial medical care financed by the Yemeni government. In the shared apartment, he sits on a sofa, wearing dark sunglasses to cover his injuries. A bullet hit him across his eyes while fighting in Taiz, months ago. He lost both his eyes and the ability to taste and smell because he didn’t receive sufficient urgent medical care. I was told Sami is an only child and his mother doesn’t know the extent of his injuries.

Like many of the soldiers, once he finds out I am a journalist here to interview them all, he quickly stands up to leave and forces his friend to leave as well. He walks out of the room and says bitterly, “I don’t want to be interviewed.”

Sami—not his real name—like all the other injured Yemeni soldiers in that apartment were part of armed forces in the national army under the authority of exiled President Abdrabbo Mansour Hadi. Soldiers are promised medical care at the expense of the national army from on duty injuries. Health facilities in Yemen are collapsing, and soldiers are flown overseas to be treated.

Taiz has been the site of bloody fighting since 2015 between national army forces under the control of the government of President Hadi and national resistance group forces affiliated with the Yemeni government; and the Houthis. There is no comprehensive data of military casualties or injured Yemeni soldiers, however, Doctors Without Borders or Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reports that since March 2015, “MSF has treated more than 72,000 patients wounded by violence in our medical facilities and MSF-supported clinics.”

There are currently about thirty injured soldiers in Cairo from the national army forces with serious wounds; some with decapitated legs or arms. Few receive limited financial support from the national army and some do not receive anything at all.

The soldiers say they have been forgotten, despite promises from the Yemeni government to provide them with ongoing medical and financial assistance. “My wounds are rotting while Yemeni officials refuse to answer my calls,” says Khatab Al-Ruaiani, 28, a soldier wounded twice at the battlefield in Taiz, in his back and his thigh. “I joined the army because I wanted to serve my country and I never imagined that my country would forget me like this.”

Interrupting Al-Ruaiani, the 25-years-old Emad Al-Fagieh explains, “we are slowly dying from the pain of our injuries without any relief (medical or financial).” Al-Fagieh suffers from serious injuries in his face and the loss of both his arms and his left eye due to a mine explosion while fighting. “There are urgent medical operations that we need to have, not only to survive, but also to go back to how we were before.”

Under the Yemeni government, soldiers with war injuries are classified into three categories: 1) Sahel soldiers that fight on the coastal line from al-Khawkhah to Aden, 2) Marib province soldiers and 3) Taiz city soldiers. The Sahel soldiers are usually medically treated in the UAE and the latter two groups in India or Egypt. Most wounded soldiers are left untreated. These soldiers managed to receive medical care from individual donations through social media posts by relatives or friends on their behalf.

If it wasn’t for an anonymous female philanthropist and her donation, Mohammed Dabwan, 22, wouldn’t be able to come to Egypt. Dabwan suffers from an injury in his back and belly that caused him bladder and bowel dysfunction. “I am registered in the armed forces’ list of whom they promised to cover medical expenses for while in Egypt, and yet it was the individual donor who covered my flight to Egypt,” explains Dabwan, while showing me in his mobile his name in the armed forces’ list. Dabwan believes he sacrificed a lot for Taiz and was not taken care of by the government in return. He has no other skillset except in fighting and sees no other future for himself except to go back to Taiz and fight.

Last year, the Yemeni embassy in Cairo hosted a music concert for two Yemeni singers, Ahmed Fathi and his daughter, Balqees Fathi, raising funds for cholera victims in Yemen—some wounded soldiers tried to use the event to cast a spotlight on the neglect they are facing. “We tried to protest at the concert, but we were forced by security to leave,” recalls Al-Ruaiani.

“Our message is not for the embassy, it is rather to President Hadi himself to intervene and end this slow death we are going through,” says Hamdi Najib, 27, with severe arm and thigh injures. Najib has been in Egypt for a year and a half undergoing several surgeries totaling $5,000, “I’m indebted and penniless; and I still need more surgeries—our government has to be held accountable.”

The Yemeni embassy established a medical committee assigned to handle soldiers’ medical issues—its head, Khaled Al-Sama’ai explains on a phone interview that Yemeni state workers have not received their salaries for about two years and that has negatively impacted financial support for wounded soldiers. “Presidential authorizations to transfer funds to the wounded soldiers often takes some time, but we are doing our best to address the soldiers’ cases,” says Al-Sama’ai. When asked why soldiers from Taiz believe they are more neglected than soldiers from other areas, Al-Sama’ai refused to give a clear answer except that, “it might be politically motivated—I can’t reveal much.”

Despite the poor medical care and financial assistance from the Yemeni government in Egypt, all of the soldiers interviewed prefer to stay. The poor quality and basic medical facilities in Yemen are ill-equipped to deal with their injuries long term and to return would mean being cut off from charitable donors and organizations sustaining them in Egypt. They have a long and slow journey to heal as they gather what medical and financial assistance they can while they question the government they fought for, but with little choice except to continue to fighting for them once they recover.

_______________________________________________
*Photography (C): Afrah Nasser
*This article was orginally published in the Atlantic Council website, July 30, 2018.

From the Front Lines of Yemen’s Lawless Taiz

*With one hand holding the hose for hookah and the other his beeping cell phone, a conversation with Mohammed al-Qadhi is constantly interrupted. He swiftly takes a glance at his cell phone and says, “Excuse me, it’s breaking news I must send this to my editors.” He grabs his phone and he begins tapping.


As one of Yemen’s veteran journalists and rare war correspondents, al-Qadhi has a lot on his plate. Despite spending a short vacation in Cairo, he is busy following the news, receiving calls and updates from his contacts in Yemen, and reporting to his editors at UAE-based Sky News Arabia.

MENASource met with al-Qadhi last month at a cafe in Cairo only days after he left war-torn Yemen. “It’s been a tough time. I needed a short break from the violence, even though, as you see, I’m still working from here,” he admits, chuckling.

“I have covered major events in Yemen’s modern history over the past twenty years and yet I believe that this war has been the most challenging conflict to cover. I’ve had some traumatic experiences while reporting over the past four years.”

Al-Qadhi has been covering the conflict, travelling to different parts of Yemen such as Sana’a and Aden, with more extensive coverage of the bloody fighting in Taiz since early 2015. In the course of the ongoing conflict, al-Qadhi has cheated death several times, survived a serious eye injury while reporting on the frontlines, faced death threats, and was kidnapped twice.

Al-Qadhi reporting from Taiz, November 2016. 

“Of all the war-torn places I’ve been to, I think Taiz has been the most challenging to cover because of the extreme difficulty of accessing it, the immense scale of destruction, unbearable humanitarian plight, and how one’s life there is constantly at risk,” says al-Qadhi.

Al-Qadhi standing near a tank with government forces in an air defence base camp
which was seized by the Houthis. The tank was broken after a landmine planted by Houthis went off.
Al-Qadhi escaped after shells fired by Houthis. November 22, 2016.

Al-Qadhi’s observations betray vast experience in conflict zones. He began working as a journalist in 1998 with Yemen’s only English-speaking newspaper back then, The Yemen Times, where he did some first-hand reporting on some of Yemen’s most turbulent times. He has also worked with several international media organizations such as the Washington Post, The Associated Press, France24, The National, and he contributed to BBC and Aljazeera English, until he officially joined Sky News Arabia in 2012. He extensively covered the war between the Yemeni government forces and Houthi rebel group from 2004 until 2010, and has been covering the Southern Secessionist Movement (al-Hirak al-Januby) in South Yemen since it began in 2007.

“Despite the constraints against freedom of press during all those years, a journalist used to be able to find his or her way and report with relative safety,” reflects al-Qadhi. “Today, however, journalists are systematically targeted by all warring sides. In Taiz in particular, Houthis think if a journalist gets his or her camera out to shoot its as if they’re shooting with a weapon.”

In Taiz, the conflict has devastated all aspects of life in the city, including the press. The city has been a scene of never-ending brutal battles since 2015 between two sides: the national army forces under the control of the government of President Hadi and Popular Resistance (a local group affiliated with the Yemeni government), and the Houthis.

Al-Qadhi sneaking through a hole made on the wall of al-Hakimi school in al-Moroor zone in Taiz. It was difficult to move into the frontline there without having to go through such holes and allies to avoid Houthi snipers. September 19, 2015.

In its 2017 report, Freedom House noted that Yemen had become one of the world’s deadliest places for journalists with at least six journalists killed during 2016, and at least nine forcibly disappeared. As accurate statistics are difficult to obtain in war-torn Yemen, there is no exact estimation of how many journalists have been killed in Taiz alone since the beginning of the conflict. However, al-Qadhi says that seven photojournalists have been killed in Taiz in the course of the conflict. One of them was Yemeni photojournalist, Ahmed al-Shibani, whose death in 2016 was captured in a video clip showing him being shot dead while reporting. Last year, another two photojournalists were killed in Taiz and another one this year.

While sneaking through holes in houses to avoid being seen by Houthi snipers in al-Hasib zone, in Taiz city. Al-Qadhi reported on the scale damage in the area. Two days after this, photojournalist Ahmed al-Shibani was shot dead in the same area he passed through. February 14, 2016.

Nonetheless, al-Qadhi explains that the Houthis are not the only threat to media workers in Yemen and that it is rather the overall lawlessness and chaos in the country which puts everyone at risk. “While I am not dismissing how dangerous it was for me to dodge Houthi snipers a number of times, I also believe it was very dangerous when I was kidnapped twice by armed tribesmen and another group of gunmen,” recalls al-Qadhi, “once in Amran province during the Houthis’ takeover of Sana’a and the other time in Taiz when gunmen were pointing their AK47 guns at my head. I thought I would be executed right there.”

Al-Qadhi believes that Taiz could be the most dangerous place for journalists in Yemen at the moment. He has lost many colleagues who were killed by Houthi snipers or shelling. Hostilities are increasing as the security deterioration continues in Taiz and law and order are very much absent due to the plethora of armed groups and their unclear allegiances.

In some of al-Qadhi’s live reporting from the frontlines, the sound of guns and shelling can be heard—on several occasions, sniper bullets or rockets have interrupted his live reports.

“Now, when I watch my video reports while I was under shelling and sniper bullets, I realize how dangerous it was,” al-Qadhi says, “when I was there, I didn’t fully understand the danger I was exposed to. Only until I see it later on the screen I understand the kind of danger I was in.”

Besides reporting from the frontlines, al-Qadhi has done numerous reports in Taiz on the dire humanitarian situation as a result of the Houthi siege. “It was crucial to cover the impact of the blockade on Taiz, since my crew and I went through what the people in the city went, and still go, through,” Al-Qadhi tells MENASource.

“I have witnessed how patients faint and die helplessly at the door of hospitals that lack the needed medicine and staff. A tragic situation!”

Al-Qadhi has had to climb high mountains in Talwooq area with the locals because it was the only safe place away from Houthi snipers while smuggling food and medicine to the city. Al-Qadhi recalls how he saw men, women, and children carry heavy commodities on their shoulders, and with camel and donkeys up on the mountain to reach the city. “That was one of the telling signs of the tragedy in Taiz,” al-Qadhi describes.

Al-Qadhi chatting with a villager from Talouk mountainous area in Sabir, southern Taiz as he climbs with his donkey carrying bags of flour being smuggled into the city of Taiz under the siege of the Houthis. December 27, 2015.

War reporting is critical, in al-Qadhi’s view, despite all the risks. “As journalists, it’s our job to convey the voice of people trapped in such conflicts,” al-Qadhi says, “I have seen how some of my reporting has led philanthropists to send help to try and alleviate the suffering of people in Taiz. “That makes all the risks worthwhile.”

_______________________________________________

*This story was orginally written for/published in The Atlantic Council's #MENASource, 23rd Feb 2018. 

The women of Jabal Sabir, Ta'iz

"The women of Jabal Sabir, Ta'iz, Yemen, by Mauro Perin Cartorange" via theyementie.tumblr

Intense Fighting Takes its Toll on Taiz

Taiz, Yemen - Footage from last month

"Taiz has witnessed some of the most intense fighting in Yemen’s three-month conflict and still sees regular clashes and civilian fatalities. It had a pre-war population of more than 600,000, but no one knows how many remain........Keeping cool in Taiz in sweltering conditions is a challenge. The temperature has risen to 37 degrees in recent days and much of the city has no electricity.

There is also a chronic shortage of fuel – caused in large part by a Saudi-Arabian-led naval blockade. This, in turn, has led to desperate water shortages as the diesel-fuelled pumps lie idle.

Cases of dengue, diarrhoea and other water-related diseases have spiked, while across the country, malnutrition cases have increased by 150 percent as prices of wheat and other staples have doubled," -Irinnews.

Yemen: Emergency Initiatives Appeal

A girl rests next to her mother (not pictured) inside an underground water tunnel with other displaced Yemeni families, after they were forced to flee their home due to ongoing airstrikes in Sanaa on May 2, 2015.

Several emergency initiatives* to assist those affected by the war in Yemen were created, and they deserve your attention if you would like to help in some form or another. You might donate, and remember no donation is ever considered too small, or you might help by spreading the word. All assistance is much appreciated. 

The initiatives are the following:-

1) The Yemen Peace Project is working with their partner organization in Aden, House of Light Foundation, to provide essential supplies for women displaced by war in Aden, southern Yemen. Make a donation today to help in taking care of those in need. Fine more details here.
If you have any questions about this initiative, please contact YPP at info@yemenpeaceproject.org.

2) An emergency initiative to assist those afflicted by the war in all Yemen’s provinces — started by Female Academicians Forum, Sana’a University. Find more details here.
If you have any questions about this initiative, please contact the forum at angelaabuasba2012@gmail.com

3) Islamic Relief has provided food to more than 385,000 people in Yemen, thanks to many people's donations. Check here how you can donate!

4) Save Aden initiative is calling for donations to assist and ease the suffering of people in Aden. Find out more here.

5) A list made by the Yemen Peace Project about agencies that are working on the ground in Yemen, and are accepting donations specifically for their Yemen operations. Find out more here.

*This page will be frequently updated with any more coming emergency initiatives, so keep on visiting again if you'd like to help more.

Yemen's Crisis: Witnesses' Testimonies

"Basma Qassim, a 20-year sociology student who grew up in New York and now lives in the southern port city of Aden, describes hearing explosions and hiding with her family in the basement as army units loyal to president Hadi battled with Houthi militants advancing on the city. "We haven't been sleeping... I have to admit it's psycholigically damaging. Death is closer to us than ever before," she said......", Middle East Eye.

Sana'a, The Roller Coaster (3rd Day)

Another roller coaster day in Sana'a. It's the third day of a series of crazy events in the capital.

Due to that things were developing per a second, the following is an approximate chronicle of today's events.



-Taiz demonstrated in the morning in solidarity with Sana'a & against Houthis' "coup". Houthis' godfather, Abdel Malik Al Houthi's picture were burned.

-Yemen’s Houthi rebels replace president’s guards. And here a Houthi fighter stands on top of an armoured vehicle outside the house of Yemen's president.

As Houthis demolish #Yemen's government in Sanaa, what I'm watching for : substantive moves towards independence by south separatists.
— Haykal Bafana (@BaFana3) January 21, 2015

-Yemen's PM finally leaves his home towards unknown location after being sieged for the past three days. 

High hundreds of armed men identified as "Peoples Committee" militia have taken over security at Aden's airport, port & other locations.
— Haykal Bafana (@BaFana3) January 21, 2015

-APF reported, there were no signs of fresh violence on Wednesday, but medical and security sources said at least 35 people had been killed and 94 wounded in the two previous days.

Marib tribal leaders demonstrate support for President Hadi following clashes in the capital #Yemen http://t.co/S1oXzcN5qr
— The Yemen Times (@theyementimes) January 21, 2015

#BREAKING: Phone conversation of former Yemeni president is leaked to Al Jazeera. Watch our livestream now http://t.co/Udg3aQv36x
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) January 21, 2015

#SalehHouthiLeaks Call btwn ex president Saleh & Houthi NDC representative Abu Ras allegedly proving collusion via @AJALive #Yemen
— Hisham Al-Omeisy (@omeisy) January 21, 2015

-Finally, an agreement between president Hadi and Al Houthi was reached, resolving issues related to the constitution draft. Earlier, Reuters kinda broke the story, reporting that Hadi was ready to accept Al Houthi's demands: "In a statement issued in the evening, Hadi said the Shi'ite Muslim group had a right to serve in posts in all state institutions, and a draft constitution that has been a source of disagreement between him and the Houthis was open to amendment."

-GCC condemns attempted Yemen ‘coup’, backs Hadi.

-Yemeni nation inside & in the diaspora are shocked with the Saleh's leaked phone call:

#SalehHouthiLeaks only prove that Saleh is not working with Houthis but actually in charge of them! #Yemen
— Hussain Al-Yafai (@crazyyafai) January 21, 2015

-Both Yaser Al Yamani, a leader at Saleh's GPC & Hassan Al Sa'adi, a leader at the Houthi group denied the credibility of the leaked phone call during their interview by AJ Arabic & accused "external" forces in manipulating the situation.  

Into Yemeni Grooms' Traditional Costumes

"‘I was feeling special,’ says Mohammad Ali Saleh, casting his mind back to his wedding day. ‘When I walked through the crowd in my traditional outfit, I was feeling special.’


Saleh got hitched in December in Ta’izz, a city squatting at the foot of Sabir Mountain in Yemen’s southern highlands. As is customary at Yemeni weddings, Saleh’s bride was not present to share his feel-good moment – she was having her own, at a separate ceremony nearby. Instead, he was joined by 38 other grooms...." -Brownbook Mag

Yemeni girl, 12, escapes her 55-year old abusive husband

Enough already & let's ban child marriage! - #Yemen'i girl, 12, escapes her 55-yr old abusive husband in #Taiz http://t.co/XFMZj9Pi80
— Afrah نasser (@Afrahnasser) August 17, 2014

Across Yemen: What do Human Rights activists have to say on Human Rights Day?

Photo: Benjamin Lowy

While today the world marks the International Human Rights Day, human rights activists across Yemen speak about how is the situation for human rights after Yemen’s 2011 uprising. Activists from Sana’a, Taiz, Hodeidah and Aden answer if there is an improvement in HR after the uprising? and how do they see the support given to enhance HR? Mrs. Hooria Mashhur, Yemen’s Human Rights Minister comments on what the government is doing in that regard. Click on the interviewee and read the full interview.

Taiz Marks Women's Mosque Massacre - 2nd Anniversary

11.11.2011 was a horrific day in Taiz city, Yemen's second largest city. Massive killings against peaceful protesters and innocent citizens were committed on that day by ex-president, Ali Saleh's forces as part of the bloody crackdown on the 2011's protests in Taiz. Dozens were killed including women and children, and dozens were injured by being shield and targeted by snipers' gunshots and more.

In 2011, I blogged about the atrocities committed on that day and I included graphic images from the targeted scenes,

"What's happening in Taiz is a real massacre against unarmed civilians at their houses and there is no guarantee that anyone is safe," tweeted @TahaAbdoh from Taiz. So far, at least 13 people, including women and kids have been killed after Saleh's troops savagely attacked pro-democracy protesters and civilians at their houses. Also, dozens of others were wounded, including civilians." Read more here. 

Caught on camera: Yemeni teacher gives 200 students a thrashing

"This was filmed around two or three days before the Eid Al-Adha festival [a celebration that starts on October 14]. Generally, students are subjected to this type of punishment if they get to class late. These thrashings take place once or twice a week. Class starts at 8am here and on that particular day, lots of students ran late.

 I’ve been on the receiving end of these canings before, and I can say that, physical pain aside, it’s really humiliating. The teacher who can be seen in the footage, Mr Mansour, is known to be especially violent and harsh. Students are more scared of him than of the principal. And the principal never intervenes to stop this teacher. This type of punishment really shouldn’t exist in schools. We’re nearly adults and they continue to treat us like children!

Almaqtary wonders about Islamic leftism

"Are we heading to an Islamic leftism?! or undefined Leftism? .. it's not that I'm against Sharia legislation, but I'm questioning how one of the new terms of the Socialist Party to be Islamic Sharia as the source of all legislations! That must be reconsidered," says Yemen's Socialist party's member, writer Boushra al-Maqtary during a seminar held in Sana'a, May 8, 2013.

Yemen Marks Massacre of Cabinet While Justice Unserved

Yemen marks the 2nd anniversary of what's known as, Massacre of the Cabinet, today. On May 11, 2011 - anti-government peaceful protesters rallied in Sana'a towards Yemen's cabinet and were attacked by security forces who used live ammunition, killing at least 12 people and wounding 200. In Taiz, on the same day, there was another rally towards polices offices and that ended up by the security forces' crackdown, killing 3 people and wounding dozens. One protester was killed in Hodeidah city as well.

The following two clips are dated from that day, in Sana'a:

A Bleak Future for Yemen’s Female Leaders

My op-ed for al-Akhbar news website about the current plight for female opinion leaders in Yemen, published in Dec. 10th, 2012.

*****

The participation of Yemeni women in the country’s uprising fascinated the world early last year. Yet the uprising also represented simultaneous opportunity and danger for women, especially female opinion leaders.

An opportunity because women had the chance to be empowered. For instance, their parliamentary participation quota is under consideration to be increased from 15 to 30 percent. A danger because of the risk looming over them and the high price they would have to pay for their audacious political stances.

Various factors shape the risks facing women. In a conservative and tribal society like Yemen, the idea of women in leadership roles has always been a problematic issue in the country’s contemporary history. For those women who dare to lead, they face virtual wars as they confront media slander and physical attacks from their opponents.

The women I’m referring to are the ones who carry the heavy burden of defending women’s rights. They were fortunate enough to enjoy a number of privileges and stick out in a country where nearly 67 percent of females suffer from illiteracy.

A number of fortunate women in Yemen have chosen to be active in advocating for human and women’s rights. Typical of a patriarchal society, these women are on the margins of the political stage, their real function is to provide a relatively stable participatory stage for influential figures to take part in decision-making. These women are not only deprived from decision-making power, but also face an increase in aggression for their political stances.

One such woman is outspoken writer Bushra al-Maqtari, who has actively participated in protests and spoken against the atrocities committed during former president Saleh’s regime.

In January 2012, Maqtari wrote a piece that could’ve led to her death. She has graphically described in her writings the savagery that took place in her birthplace and current residence of Taiz province. In that piece, she boldly wondered why God has disappointed the people of Taiz when they were bombarded by gunshots during the ‘Life March,’ a 260-kilometer procession from Taiz to Sanaa on 20 December 2011.

The piece spread like wildfire, and not long ago, conservative Islamist groups headed by the Islah party defamed her and called for her murder. In Taiz’s Freedom Square, members of the party mobilized protesters to march to her home and kill her. Several women of Islah beat Maqtari when she visited the square afterwards.


During a televised interview in Septmeber 2011, the Islamist MP, Sheikh Mohammed al-Hazmi lashed out at Maqtari. He said that a fatwa calling for death would be issued against anyone who blasphemes, including Maqtari.
Maqtari doesn’t live in her house anymore; she has sought protection at her relatives’ homes. In August 2012, she filed a complaint with Yemen’s attorney general over the defamation campaigns waged against her in hopes of receiving an official consideration. Thankfully, she’s alright, but the danger still awaits.

Atiaf Alwazir, a Yemeni-American researcher and activist, has been one of the faces of Yemen’s uprising. She is a citizen journalist disseminating the latest on Yemen’s political and humanitarian situations in the international media. She has raised pressing concerns about the impact of the CIA’s drone strikes against Yemeni civilians.

Just like many other female intellectuals, Alwazir was the target of an online propaganda campaign, led by a male journalist who opposed her political opinions. She was called a traitor and a western spy. Even for a woman respected by many, the attacks against her reputation caused harm.

Hostility against women’s rights advocates has a long history in Yemen. For instance, in 1974, a group of Islamists took over and shut down the Yemeni Women’s Association in Sanaa, which offered basic literary lessons, craftwork training, and radio broadcast training. The association remained closed until it was reopened in 1979 by the late activist Raufa Hassan who, back then, was accused of being westernized and subsequently harassed and threatened by Islamist groups.

And this is only a partial list.

The situation for male opinion leaders is hardly better than that of females. Several men have been targeted, such as Abdelaziz al-Saqqaf who was killed in a 1996 car “accident.” Journalist Abdulkarim Al-Khaiwani was imprisoned for several months in 2007 for his critical writings against the military. Journalist Abdelelah Shaye was one of the first journalists to report on the CIA’s civilian-killing drone strikes and accordingly, he has been behind bars since 2010. Journalist Nabeel Subaye openly criticized Ahmed Saleh, son of former president Saleh and commander of the Yemeni Republican Guard, and then faced an online propaganda campaign, attacks on his car and house, and death threats.
Again, the list goes on.

I specifically address the targeting of female opinion leaders because even though female activists played a major role during the revolution, many do not want to continue in these leading roles. The women facing harassment are independent thinkers, closer to the youth movement than traditional political parties. Their struggle is not only to fight marginalization, but also to fight the defamation and threats.

Another crucial reason for my focus on females is the potential for a domino effect. If one female leader is terrorized, then other emerging female leaders could become silent. It’s a distressing reality given the fact that there are no laws or big women’s rights organizations that can defend them. Lawlessness in Yemen harms everyone. However, we feminists can only survive by sticking up for each other and breaking the silence.

Two Separate Explosions Rip Yemen

Around 7 men were killed in Taiz's explosion tonight (may their souls rest in peace) and dozens injured. Bearing in mind that markets & stores are very crowded during Ramadan's evenings, the explosion in Taiz must have greatly traumatized the people. No al-Qaeda was involved. Reportedly, the explosive device was thrown by some young guy who had a long-standing dispute with someone at the market.

In addition, another explosion hit Sana'a; killing one man. (Source: Associated Press)

Here are few photos of the victims (source):

Reportedly, this is the guy who committed the explosion (source):

Horror and Fear Sweep Taiz

By Z.A.

Horror and fear is sweeping the city of Taiz due to the continuity of the clashes between government troops and demonstrators and clashes mostly happened after midnight. As a result of this many families have left their homes in the city and ran to the countryside. Many buildings were destroyed as because of the random artillery.

The traffic has stopped in Taiz due to the lack of fuel and diesel and the price of a 20 liters has reached 5000-7000. The city is also threatened by the spread of many plagues and diseases because of the piles of garbage that is spread all over the city.

The presence of armed tribesmen in Taiz also increased violence between the government troops and the demonstrators backed by tribesmen. The hospital in the Freedom Square in Taiz has called upon all humanitarian organization to help the hospital that is suffering from lack of surgical medicines, antibiotics of all sorts, blankets, beds and other medicines to help those who are infected with poison gas.

The sanitation system is also suffering and is causing also an environmental crisis that can also cause many diseases and the local authority has done nothing about it. Electricity blackouts has added an extra burden on the life of citizens and since the city is in the months that is so hot people are suffering from the high temperatures and many children were hospitalized due to problems in breathing.

Mohammed Saleh, a citizen from Taiz told us that in addition to this, many government building were also destroyed and now there are groups of people not know who they are practice looting both government buildings and also house exploiting the situation of the chaos to d their crimes.

The number of deaths and injuries in Taiz is not know until now for sure due to that some bodies are being taken and disappear. There is not definite record for the number of deaths. Seyaj organization for protecting childhood said that they have records for Yemen at large and that they record more than 59 children were killed all over Yemen in the past four months in demonstrations, and more than 50 were severely injured. For the past two moths only more than 50,000 families were forced to leave their houses in Sana'a, Taiz and Abyan.

زكريا الكمالي : وسائل الإعلام لا تنقل ربع الصورة الحقيقية لما جرى ويجرى في تعز

كلمات / زكريا الكمالي

أزمات بعضها فوق بعض. هذا هو اليمن الآن.



في كل مدينة كارثة، وفي كل مديرية مصيبة، وفي كل حي أزمة خانقة.


تتشابه المدن مع بعض في كوارثها، تتعافى واحدة، وتصاب الثانية باختناق مميت، إلا تعز.


مصائب كل المدن، مجتمعة فيها، ولديها مصيبة إضافية وحصرية، اسمها "قيران".


الكتابة عن كارثة تعز، لا تقل وجعاً عن الكارثة التي لحقت بمدينة الحديدة بسبب انطفاء الكهرباء، حيث توفي عدد من مرضى الغسيل الكلوي، وتعفنت الجثث. ولا عن مآسي نازحي "زنجبار".


مصاب تعز, جلل، ولا يمكن إلصاقه بـ"القضاء والقدر". وباء قاتل، لكننا قادرون على اجتثاثه، إذا توافرت الإرادة من أبناء هذه المدينة.


وسائل الإعلام لا تنقل ربع الصورة الحقيقية لما جرى ويجرى في تعز. المدينة تُعاقب بالفعل، وباتت تنام بعين واحدة.


حتى لا يوثق الإعلام جرائمه، حوّل مدير أمن تعز، معارك القصف, ليلاً. هكذا يفكر زعماء العصابات واللصوص.
في الظلام، سيقصف غرف النوم، ويروّع الأطفال، بحجة "ترسيخ السكينة العامة". وفي الفجر، سينام، كلص.



قبل شهر، نزح كثير من سكان الحصبة في صنعاء إلى تعز، هربا من لهيب المعارك التي دارت هناك. قدموا إلى مدينتهم الأم، فوجدوها تتعذب أكثر. نزح غالبية سكان أحياء "الشماسي", "الهريش" الى قراهم، وأحياء آمنة، بعد إنذارات وجهها مدير أمن تعز إليهم، بسرعة إخلاء منازلهم، حتى يتسنى له القصف.


مد رجال الأعمال والمشائخ أيديهم إليه كـ"طرف" من أجل توقيع اتفاق تهدئة، فخرقه بعد ساعة بقصف غير معهود.


منذ اتفاق التهدئة الفاشل، طالت "قرون قيران"، بدأ ينطح الأحياء البعيدة من ساحة الحرية أيضا, بقذائفه الطائشة.


فجر الجمعة، شن قصف وهمي بشع على المدينة، حتى لا يخرج الناس في "صلاة الجمعة"، وفي المساء، عاد ليصرح على لسان "مصدر محلي"، بأن عناصر المشترك "أقاموا صلاة غير مرخصة في ساحة الحرية" وقاموا بنصب الخيام !!.. ألم تكن عودة ساحة الحرية، والمسيرات السلمية الدائمة، ضمن بنود الاتفاق المعلن. نريد إجابة من رجال أعمال تعز الذين وقعوا معه؟


مساء أمس الأول، حذر من "قيام أي حزب أو جهة أياً كانت بتسيير مسيرات أو مظاهرات غير مرخص لها". حاكم عسكري وبليد. لا يعي أن الثورات حرة، و لا تنتظر ترخيصاً من إدارته.


الرجل لا يكتفي بالإرهاب الذي يمارسه ليلاً، ويهدد بمجازر جديدة ضد الشباب ومسيراتهم السلمية.


الذي يقتل مرة، سيقتل ثانية وثالثة وألف. سيقتل مادامت أفعاله القبيحة، تواجه بمباركه من أبناء تعز، الذين ما زالوا في صف النظام، ويصفقون له. عليهم أن يفيقوا، ويدركوا أن ما يجري هو عار عليهم في المقام الأول.


سُيحاكم مدير أمن تعز لا محالة، اليوم أو غداً، وحين يُسأل: "يا قيران من قرونك"؟ سيرد "ما لقيت حد يردني".


ما الذي ستقولونه حينها؟ أريد أن أعرف فقط؟. لم تعلنوا تأييد الثورة،وهذا حق لكم، فلماذا لا تعملون فقط، على إيقاف جرائم، ضد مدينة أنجبتكم، وتربيتم على ترابها.تعز لن تتعافى والذي يدير أمنها سفاح.


قيران ليس إله، بل مجرد قاتل، والقاتل دائما جبان. وجود موقف شجاع وموحد من تجار تعز الذين خاضوا وساطة،خُرقت، وبقية أبناء المدينة، وكوادرها، الذين ما زالوا مع النظام، سيردعه عن التمادي في جرائمه، سيجعلكم محط احترام من قيران نفسه، وليس أبناء المدينة فقط.اسبقونا وقدموه للمحاكمة. قدمّوا لتعز هدية ثمينة كهذه مثلاً.


إذا كان وزير العدل لا يريد أن يمارس مهامه، ويلقي القبض على قيران، كـ"فأر"، من وجه العدالة، فلماذا لا يستنكر ما يجري في مدينته، كونه ابزر المسئولين في النظام، غير المصابين. غازي الأغبري، عبد الله الحامدي، ونبيل شمسان،وغيرهم، مطالبون بتحديد موقف، وألا يكونوا كطابور الصمت السابق. عليهم أن يفكروا بإجابة حاسمة لمعادلة أخيرة فقط، ويدرسونها بدقة قبل الاختيار: تعز، أم قيران؟