Yemeni women unite in street protest

June 26, 2011

Yemeni women, many dressed in graduation gowns, took to the streets of the capital Sanaa to show their opposition to President Ali Abdullah Saleh and to add their united voice in a demand for a transitional council.

Their protest was also aimed at the intervention of the United States and Saudi Arabia in Yemeni affairs.

One marcher, Amal Ahmed explained the purpose of their march.

“We want to prove to the world that we are granddaughters of Balqis, the Queen of Sheba who ruled Yemen and was mentioned in the Quran. She was able to make a change.We are from different classes of society: housewives, teachers, doctors, engineers, students. Everyone wants a civil and civilised state,” she said.

The march comes on the back of the United Nations Security Council expressing grave concern at what it called the, “deteriorating security and humanitarian situation” in the country.

President Saleh remains in Saudi Arabia after being injured in a bomb attack on his palace with no sign of his return to Yemen.