Hundreds of Yemeni women gathered yesterday in 60 Street in Sana'a, the capital to decry president Saleh' s latest atrocities against its people and more importantly against women and children.
Over the course of the past few weeks several women, amongst whom Azeeza Abdo Othman in Taiz were shot down by snipers, or hit by shells as the government continues to target its population indiscriminately.
Several women activists also said they were protesting against the kidnapping of female protesters as they stressed that the regime willingly targeted women in order to instill fear in the demonstrators and break the momentum which Yemeni women are believed to have given the revolution.
Only last week, a reported 15 young female protesters were abducted in al-Qaa garden as the Central Security Forces closed in on demonstrators, backed up by armed thugs loyal to the regime.
Residents confirmed at the time that they had seen government buses drove away the prisoners to unknown locations. None of the people abducted that day were heard from since.
Women all over Yemen felt that since the government was no longer acted "honorably" towards its female citizens, it was now down to the tribes to fulfill their duties towards them, as tradition clearly orders the punishment of those who dare raise their hands against Yemeni women.
Tribal Code of Honor
One has to understand that Yemen is still very much entrenched in its tribal tradition. Honor and tribal duty are no laughing matter in this part of the Arabic Peninsula.
Unlike what many westerners believe, Yemeni men hold women in high esteem since they are considered the pillars upon which the entire society rest. Even in Islam women are regarded as treasures which men have to protect, care for, love and respect.
For millennia, tribal chiefs in Yemen upheld this "code of honor", ruthlessly punishing anyone who dared harmed their mothers, sisters or daughters.
The Black Shame
If ever there was a condemnation, the "Black Shame would be Yemen's ultimate outcry, as it is a direct call to the tribes from their female citizens to act on their behalf as they demand revenge from the oppressor.
Such a call could not possibly remain unanswered as it would bring shame onto the tribes in question.
800 or so women yesterday, urged the tribes of Yemen as a whole, to act on their behalf and fulfill their oath of protection.
The burning of the veil was a symbolic gesture aimed at shocking the tribes into actions; it wasn't in any way a rebellion against the veil, which women for the most part are freely choosing to wear, but rather a call for war.
Although other young protesters decided to remove their Niqab (veil face) in protest, it was more in defiance to the regime than a real need to "free" themselves as some westerners understood it.
In a statement the women read yesterday: “honorable proud men of all Yemeni tribes we are calling you to come to our aid and end the killing of women by the regime."
Whether the tribes will now answer the call is another matter, since it will most certainly ignite an all-out armed conflict with the regime, burying all hopes of a peaceful transition of power.
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