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The Unlikely face of Yemen’s Opposition

 

The Unlikely face of Yemen’s Opposition

On the heels of the Egyptian Revolution, Yemen’s uprising is gaining momentum with every passing day. And as the World Medias are turning their attention to this forgotten country of the Arabic Peninsula; one cannot escape the fact that the face of this pro-democracy movement is that of a woman. Given that Yemen is said to be one of the most backward of all Arabic countries in terms of Women rights, it is interesting to see a woman leading the entire nation towards Liberation.

 Ironically, Tunisia’s dictator was deposed by one of its poorest citizen and now we might witness the fall of the Saleh regime by the hands of a member of the “forgotten” gender.

 But before international newspapers knew who she was, Tawakkul Karman was already a brave defender of the Freedom of Expression and Human Rights in Yemen. As an active member of the Islah party (the party for reforms), she always made a point of defending the weak and giving a voice to the unheard.

 She is also the founder of Women Journalists without Chains, a non-profit organization which denounces all infractions made against the Human Rights and act as the local Amnesty International. A bit of an ideologist, Tawakkul has been for several years now, the nagging voice of the opposition that just will not go away.

 In many ways, this young woman, wife and mother of three, has become Yemen’s conscience.

The Politician

 In her parliamentary capacity, Tawakkul has pushed forward the issue of child marriages and has been attempting to find enough political support to pass a law, after the story of little Nujood became public. Since the protests started in Sana’a, she has been a recognizable face between the crowds of students. She wants to make a stand against what she calls a corrupt and rotten regime of politicians. In a country in which women’s participation in politics is minimal, Tawakkul will certainly be remembered as the woman who paved the way for all those who have political ambitions and aspirations. It is important to note that despite two female ministers, Yemen has consistently ranked at the bottom in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index since it was first included in the ranking in 2006.

Even Hamid Al-Ahmar, a influential tribe member of the Hashid, gave tribute to her participation during an interview and confirmed that she would have a role to play in the post Saleh era.

 The Feminist

Tawakkul Karman presents to the World a very different image from the traditional Yemeni woman all clad in black abbaya and niqab. Unlike many of her fellow Muslim sisters, she does not cover her face. Although it might seem derisory for many, this is an act of profound forwardness for a society which still see women as tradable commodities. In a country where women have more chance to die from childbirth than to get an education, Tawakkul has proven that feminism is not a foreign notion and that in Yemen too; things can change.

The Activist

 With her journalist friend Samia Al-Aghbari, Tawakkul is fighting for civic improvements and for a broader and wider understanding of notions such as freedom and human rights. In a patriarchal society such as Yemen, where only the strong have a say, those women are in the full front of this new democratic movement that is sweeping the region. Even imprisonment has not weakened their determination. Tawakkul actually used her time in jail to “chat up” as she put it, her fellow detainees….

So for all those who thought Yemen was too entrenched in its Neanderthal way of thinking, I give you Tawakkul Karman; who through her relentless denunciations of corruption and injustice has managed to give Yemen a civic consciousness.

 

Author

Catherine Shakdam

Although French by birth, my studies and my professional life led me to live for many years in the United Kingdom and in the Middle East.
Armed with a Master in Finance, a Bachelor degree in Psychology and 5 languages under my belt I managed to make my way through the maze of the Trading World of Wall Street, as an equity consultant. However, my interest for Politics and the Middle East gave me the necessary push to launch me as a "writer". Since then, I have voiced my opinions via my Blog and various publications such as the Middle East Post, the Guardian UK, and now Foreign Policy Association. I currently live in London.