Yemeni Activism
By Abbi North
Yemen is often positioned in mainstream media through lenses of violence, poverty, and humanitarian crisis. This emphasis on Yemen as a country in need risks detracting from the rich history of Yemeni advocacy and resistance. Leaders and groups like those behind the 2011 Yemen Revolution (Arab Spring) are often sanitized and misrepresented in their depictions. This article is both an opportunity to nuance the conversation surrounding Yemeni activism, with a particular focus on women and youth, and to provide action items for supporting advocacy efforts.
Read through this excellent photo slideshow about the dimensions of Yemeni activism. Below are the Key figures and the sources used throughout the presentation.
Key figures:
Imam Yahya Mudammad Hamid ed-Din: Effective ruler over northern Yemen, 1904-1948
Ali Abdullah Saleh: President of Yemen, 1990-2012
Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi: President of Yemen, 2012-now
Tawakkol Karman: Opposition leader during 2011 Yemen Revolution, Nobel Peace Prize Winner
Ottoman Empire: Islamic Caliphate, mid 14th century – early 20th century
Photo sources:
AFP/Getty Images
(November 2015), The World
(April 2015), Common Dreams
Dexter Filkins (April 2011), The New Yorker
Hani Mohammed (January 2011), AP / Britannica
ICRC Staff (September 2015), ICRC
Jay Tharappel (August 2019), The Oriental Despot
Julia Baier (March 2020), Time
Omar Algunaid, Oxfam
Paul Morigi (October 2018), AP Photo / The Nation
Rod Waddington (November 2018), Le Monde diplomatique
Stan Meagher (1967), Hulton Archive / Flashbak
UNICEF Staff (December 2019), UNICEF
Victor Boyko (October 2019), Getty Images / Aurora Prize
Xinhua (January 2015), International Policy Digest
Written sources:
Abramson, Jeff and Izabella Czejdo. ‘Congress acts on war in Yemen.’ Arms Control Association.
https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2019-04/news/congress-acts-war-yemen
Britannica. Yemen Profile. Britannica Encyclopedia.
https://www.britannica.com/place/Yemen/The-age-of-imperialism
Farah, Caesar E. 2002. The Sultan’s Yemen: 19th Century Challenges to Ottoman Rule. I.B. Tauris.
Filkins, Dexter. April 2011. ‘After the uprising.’ The New Yorker.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/04/11/after-the-uprising
Fisk, Robert. December 2018. ‘The Ottomans were one humiliated by Yemeni rebels – today, the Houthis have done the same to Saudi Arabia.’ The Independent.
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/robert-fisk-saudi-arabia-yemen-houthis-humiliate-armenian-genocide-ottoman-empire-a8692451.html
Global Nonviolent Action Database. ‘Yemenis oust Saleh regime (Yemen Revolution), 2011-2012.’ Swarthmore University.
https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/yemenis-oust-saleh-regime-yemen-revolution-2011-2012
Middle East and North Africa Programme: Yemen Forum Workshop. May 2012. ‘The Role of Youth Activists in Yemen’s Transition Process.’ Chatham House.
https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/public/Research/Middle%20East/0512summary_yemenyouth.pdf
The Project on Middle East Political Science. January 2018. ‘Politics, Governance and Reconstruction in Yemen.’ POMEPS.
https://pomeps.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/POMEPS_Studies_29_Yemen_Web-REV.pdf
Transfeld, Mareike. February 2019. ‘Youth activism in the Yemeni Civil War.’ Yemen Polling Center.
https://www.yemenpolling.org/2664-2/
Yadav, Stacey Philbrik. Winter 2018. ‘Three women activists advancing peace in Yemen.’ MERIP.
https://merip.org/2019/03/roundtable-three-women-activists-advancing-peace-in-yemen/