Only a day after an incredibly violent and bloody day in the Yemeni capital Sana'a, as several northern districts of the city were rocked by explosions and armed clashes between the revolutionary forces and that of the government, women decided to make a stand today.
Several hundred Yemeni women from all ages gathered today in one of Sana'a main artery, threw their veil onto the streets and set fire to it.
As smoke slowly rose above the area, passers-by stopped,. astonished to see women burn the symbol of their pride.
Activists started to chant: "who will protect Yemeni women from the thugs, who will stand for us?"
Over the past few days several women protesters were shot at by snipers; singled out in the crowd and executed. Children also were the innocent victims of the regime as many were either shot or killed by mortar shells.
And if the women were denouncing the regime and most particularly Saleh for his attacks against them and their children, it was also defected General Mohsen they were criticizing as many felt he had not done enough to protest them.
"Did he send help? No. Did he retaliate? No. We are the mother, daughter and sister of Yemen, men owe us protection; they should lay down their lives to protect us. Shame on whoever lays a hand on a woman or a child" said a virulent activist in her fifties, who despite her defiant stand against the regime preferred to remain anonymous.
Other young women decided to remove their Niqaq (full face veil) altogether in protest against the regime, claiming that they wanted to die uncovered, proof of the shamelessness of Saleh's regime.
Leaflets were also handed out reading: “This is a plea from the free women of Yemen; here we burn our veil in front of the world to witness the bloody massacres carried by the tyrant Saleh."