Global Feminist Daily News Wire
October-27-11

Yemeni Women Burn Veils in Protest of the Government

On Wednesday, hundreds of Yemeni women gathered in the country's capital of Sanaa to burn their veils in protest of the government's on-going crackdown against anti-government demonstrations. The women held banners to criticize President Ali Abdullah Saleh's authoritative regime, with the banners reading: "Saleh the butcher is killing women and is proud of it" and "Women have no value in the eyes in Ali Saleh." The act itself, which holds great symbolic meaning in the conservative Islamic nation where women are required to cover themselves with veils, is another example of Yemeni women taking part in the country's uprising.

Government forces attacked more than 60 women in October alone, according to CNN. Protestor Ruqaiah Nasser stated "We will not stay quiet...Tribes must understand they will not be respected by Yemeni women if they stay quiet while their women are being attacked by the Saleh regime. Tribes who ignore our calls are cowards and have no dignity."

Although the Yemeni government announced a "cease-fire" earlier this week, more than ten demonstrators were killed on Tuesday.

Media Resources: CNN 10/26/11; CBS News 10/26/11

Feminist.org: Your daily source for the feminist perspective on national and global events.