November 02, 2005
Today in Yemen: Death Threats
Communiqué about the Death Threat Received by Mr. Mohammed Qahtan Head of the Political Bureau of the Yemeni Congregation for Reform (Islah):
The Yemeni Forum for Change (YFC), which is a private, not for profit, and non-partisan organization focusing on issues related to democratic change and human rights in Yemen, is very concerned about the death threat received by Mr. Mohammed Qahtan, Head of the Political Bureau of the Yemeni Congregation for Reform (a.k.a, Islah) which is the biggest opposition party in Yemen. Qahtan, who is one of the most vocal critics of government, has received a two-page letter containing a death threat and delivered to the doorstep of his house in the early morning of Tuesday Nov. 1. 2005.
The YFC strongly condemns this type of terror against a Yemeni politician exercising his rights within constitutional and legal limits, and it calls on domestic and international legal and human rights organizations to denounce such a heinous act.
The death threat to Mr. Qahtan comes at a time in which the Yemeni government has escalated its harassment, intimidation, and in some instances beatings of Yemeni journalists, opposition and independent politicians. The government harassment has extended to include the head of the YFC, Dr. Abdullah Al-faqih, whose countryside relatives in Ibb governorate have been subjected at beginning of the month of Ramadan to harassing calls from officers in the Political Security Organization (PSO) which is an extra constitutional institution answerable only to president Saleh. This occurred shortly after the YFC held a symposium to discuss political reforms in Yemen.
In light of current circumstances in Yemen and as a response to deteriorating political and economic conditions, the YFC calls on intellectuals, journalists, and social figures inside and outside Yemen to increase pressure on the Yemeni government to do the following:
1. Protect its citizens and hold those responsible for these terrorizing acts accountable in front of the law; failing to do so will only implicate government officials in the conspiracy to terrorize journalists and activists.
2. Cease all types of harassment, intimidation, and terrorizing acts directed against opposition figures, journalists and activists.
3. Positively and unconditionally respond to calls for national dialogue that includes all relevant political forces and address immediate political and economic challenges facing the country.
4. Work with other forces in society to build a democratic culture which enables Yemenis to peacefully work their political differences.
5. Take urgent steps to combat corruption which has become the number one obstacle to political and economic development in Yemen.
Sana'a, Republic of Yemen. November 2, 2005
For queries in Arabic, please call 967-711000226
For queries in English, please call 967-711909057
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The Yemeni Forum for Change (YFC), which is a private, not for profit, and non-partisan organization focusing on issues related to democratic change and human rights in Yemen, is very concerned about the death threat received by Mr. Mohammed Qahtan, Head of the Political Bureau of the Yemeni Congregation for Reform (a.k.a, Islah) which is the biggest opposition party in Yemen. Qahtan, who is one of the most vocal critics of government, has received a two-page letter containing a death threat and delivered to the doorstep of his house in the early morning of Tuesday Nov. 1. 2005.
The YFC strongly condemns this type of terror against a Yemeni politician exercising his rights within constitutional and legal limits, and it calls on domestic and international legal and human rights organizations to denounce such a heinous act.
The death threat to Mr. Qahtan comes at a time in which the Yemeni government has escalated its harassment, intimidation, and in some instances beatings of Yemeni journalists, opposition and independent politicians. The government harassment has extended to include the head of the YFC, Dr. Abdullah Al-faqih, whose countryside relatives in Ibb governorate have been subjected at beginning of the month of Ramadan to harassing calls from officers in the Political Security Organization (PSO) which is an extra constitutional institution answerable only to president Saleh. This occurred shortly after the YFC held a symposium to discuss political reforms in Yemen.
In light of current circumstances in Yemen and as a response to deteriorating political and economic conditions, the YFC calls on intellectuals, journalists, and social figures inside and outside Yemen to increase pressure on the Yemeni government to do the following:
1. Protect its citizens and hold those responsible for these terrorizing acts accountable in front of the law; failing to do so will only implicate government officials in the conspiracy to terrorize journalists and activists.
2. Cease all types of harassment, intimidation, and terrorizing acts directed against opposition figures, journalists and activists.
3. Positively and unconditionally respond to calls for national dialogue that includes all relevant political forces and address immediate political and economic challenges facing the country.
4. Work with other forces in society to build a democratic culture which enables Yemenis to peacefully work their political differences.
5. Take urgent steps to combat corruption which has become the number one obstacle to political and economic development in Yemen.
Sana'a, Republic of Yemen. November 2, 2005
For queries in Arabic, please call 967-711000226
For queries in English, please call 967-711909057
Posted by: Jane at
06:32 AM
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1
Just more of the same. The Europeans should be able to help here, but they don't want to risk angering the government. The US has its hands full, already, and the Yemen thugs know this. It's tough, Jane.
Posted by: jesusland joe at November 02, 2005 10:26 AM (rUyw4)
2
You know what gets me is the reformers in Yemen who refuse to be intimidated into silence even though they know they have no international back-up. All Im trying to do is give them a little PR. Because they deserve it. They're fighting for democracy completely on their own.
Posted by: Jane at November 02, 2005 10:31 AM (ywZa8)
3
May well be hopeless Jane. Its very very difficult to reform a nation that has absolutely no history as a nation in the first place.
The reformers have an added problem. They are composed of almost entirely of expats and foreign educated. In a cloistered tribal society like Yemen that makes you a neo-foreigner - an outsider.
Posted by: hondo at November 02, 2005 12:53 PM (ymtSt)
4
Hello Jane,
I have been handed your
articles and urls from
many friends and
relatives.
You are coming across as
an Umamia/Internationalist of
the first class
and an advocate of the
Yemeni struggle for
democracy. I am sure you
already have earned your
place in the heart of
Yemeni people as a
friend and
Mujahida in their cause.
I had known Brother
Mohamad bin Mohamad
Qahtan as a student of
his in Muad bin Jabal in mid 70's.His
teachings and
attitude proves to
anyone that comes
in contact with him
how loving and caring
this man about the orphans,
the poor, and helpless.
al-Qahtani is one of the
finest men I know that
Yemen has given birth to.
Should anything happen
to al-Ustad Mohamad
bin Mohamad Qhatan
outside Allah's
mercy and fate, the
Yemeni government,
its foreign accomplice regimes,
the Yemeni political security and
military,tribal leaders,
and their militia juntas
must be held fully
responsible before the
Yemeni people and Allah
the Greatest of All.
Posted by: Jack Abdalhameed at November 02, 2005 02:29 PM (nrs3H)
5
hondo:
A) Thanks for the feedback guys. Its rare I get anyoneto talk to me about yemen.
B) To Quote Tug McGraw, "Ya Gotta Believe."
C) The dissatifaction is widespread. The recent riots that exploded through all the governates are one example. But there has to be a better connection between the disenfranchised masses and the intellectuals, which is hard to do when the govt controls the mass media.
D) Even with short odds, democracy can win. I didnt say it would be easy. Im saying its better for everybody and possible.
Hi Jack, a democracy mujahadia? OK. You are right if anything happens to Qhatan, there will be an outcry, including here in the US.
Posted by: Jane at November 02, 2005 02:59 PM (6krEN)
6
Jane
Understand the sentiments - a worthy cause - I wish you well ...
but - Jawa is not a good board for the dialog and feedback your looking for. Mostly lite quick conservative comments as opposed to significant depth. A little humor (bad taste OK), ranting (good for the soul) - stuff like that.
Great, enjoyable and fun if you keep it in perspective.
Posted by: hondo at November 02, 2005 03:17 PM (ymtSt)
7
hondo, the discussion is a perk i wasnt expecting and i appreciate. you're right i dont fit well here at the moment, and i think rusty knows me well enough after two years to know what im about. the yemeni regime is allergic to publicity. so when theres a death threat, im posting it. it can make a difference, it has in the past. rusty, dean and the commissar gave me open priviledges because sometimes theres an emergency. im only planning on posting maybe once a week. im not going to kill everybody with the details. but the yemeni regime is very funny actually, like when they said they had to raise the internet costs because censorship is so expensive. so maybe little by little, the view will change from this absurd label of a reforming democracy to something more accurate, like a brutal oligarchy. but im not moving off topic. ill practice snarky. i used to be good at that.
Posted by: Jane at November 02, 2005 08:49 PM (6krEN)
8
Stop corruption, intimidation, harassment in a muslim country????? DREAM ON. Allah, the greatest of them all. Who is all. The muslims? Doesn't take much to be greater than those retarded idiots.
Posted by: Greyrooster at November 03, 2005 04:05 PM (ZaAd/)
9
Death threat against an opposition member, nothing new for over there. And against an Islah party member, paybacks for the past. Yes, the Islah party is trying to gain more political clout and turn out the GPC, but all one has to do is look at who is in charge of the Islah party and how it was formed to know they are to be trusted no more than the GPC.
Weapons smuggling stopped, not quiet. Watched many a smuggling caravans drive past the army guards on their way to Saudi across the Empty Quarter. Army can't stop them cause they only control the ground they are standing on at the moment and they dare not make the surrounding tribes angry.
Jane keep up the good work on reporting on what goes on over there. It can be unbelievable at times
Posted by: Jon at November 04, 2005 05:18 PM (GKvSS)
10
tnx, and unbelievable is right.
Posted by: Jane at November 04, 2005 05:25 PM (6krEN)
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