Yemeni women protest over President’s insulting remark
Security forces fired on anti-government protesters in Yemen’s capital Sunday as women protested during what is called the “honor and dignity” march, to denounce president’s remarks, he made against women taking part in rallies demanding his ouster.
The Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh said Friday that women mingling with men at protests violate Islamic law.
Many saw Saleh’s comments on women as an offense because his comments questioned women’s honor and invoked religious tradition in an attempt to stem political outrage.
A report by Business Maktoob.com claims that Arwa Shaher, a female activist has said “He aimed to provoke families and the society, but it has only increased our resolve to pursue the people’s demands to ensure that this man, who is losing his mind day by day, goes.”
On Sunday, Saleh was shown on television meeting with dozens of women. He told them: “We don’t doubt our daughters, or mothers or sisters. These women are dearer and more honourable than to be offended.”
Saleh explained that what he said about mixing of the genders was out of fear that “mobs” would attack them.
Many Yemeni women remain out of sight and conceal themselves in public under black head-to-toe robes, but unlike in neighbouring Saudi Arabia, women in Yemen are permitted to vote, run for parliament and drive cars.
