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Yemeni Activism

Al Fusaic

By Abbi North

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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/