THE AMBASSADORS - NATIONAL PROFILE [YEMEN 2]

In this section, we hope to present our readers with a glimpse of the true old and modern Yemen. A country whose reality lays camouflaged and hidden from mainstream consciousness through negative misrepresentations in the global media. Contrary to many of the reports following the terrorist attack on the battleship USS Cole in 2000 and September 11 attacks on the US, the Yemenis people have been known for their immense generosity, genuine hospitality, trustworthiness, strong sense of patriotism, communal collectivity, and harmony with their harsh natural habitat. They are truly a people who have survived the test of time, eager to develop and compete in a world of possibilities, yet keen to remain true to a rich heritage. Unfortunately, progress in Yemen was not covered with the same intensity in the Western press as the revolutions, civil war, border clashes, assassination of presidents, economic catastrophes, riots and chaos! Adding to this negative image was the tracing back of Osama Bin Laden's family to Hadhramawt governate in Yemen and the wrong stereotype about Yemeni women in some Western media.

One of the major accomplishments in Yemen's developmental schemes is the improvement of women's status in the country. In the last forty years alone (September 26, 1962- September 26, 2002) the role of women in Yemen has evolved dramatically and positively with women holding prominent leadership position in many of the country's top ranks. The appointments of women ambassadors, ministers, professors, doctors, engineers, teachers, journalists, officers, members of parliament, TV broadcasters, horseback riders and weavers is bound to bring them to the forefront.

Two female Western doctors, Eva Hoeck (Germany) and Claude Fayein (France) wrote their memoirs on their experiences in Yemen over 50 years ago. The German doctor lived in Taiz from 1947 till 1957 as a doctor for the crown prince's family and for the city. "Hakeema almanniya" (German female doctor) as she was known, mentioned from her experience in Yemen that she learnt how "a doctor has to be gentle with her patients, not only with their bodies but with their souls." Her heartwarming stories paint pictures of an early Yemen entrenched in mystery. She reported seeing the bread women three times a day appearing at the market, squatting on the ground, with baskets of homemade wheat or millet bread before them. Sometimes an old man of 70 or more, marries a 10-year-old girl, to keep him from growing old, as they say, by the child youth. She visited "kabr" (grave) of Prophet Hud. Men and women believe that praying by the grave of the venerated man will bring them blessings. From the age of 10, girls were veiled like women, and were not allowed to appear on the street. Women spend hours beautifying themselves, printing their hands and feet with henna. They wear a four-folded necklace of yellow amber beads with sweet smelling herbs in their head scarves, colored Indian Muslim veils, silver earrings and bands, and rings with huge rubies and silvery anklets. Some Bedouin women unveiled in their usual indigo blue garb with heavy silver chains and belts with bells and their faces painted yellow, and their eyebrows penciled in a thin fine line.

Dr. Eva Hoeck explained that Yemenite as well as Ethiopian legends record the visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon, who finally managed to outwit the Queen by his cunning. Legend has it that he invited her to stay a night in his palace after the farewell feast. The King had asked that so much spice be put in her food, which gave her a dreadful thirst early in the night. She wandered in the palace searching for water and found a full pitcher and drank it all. At this moment, King Solomon appeared from behind a curtain and cried, "Ahhh, now I have caught you." She replied saying, " I had only drunk some water." He responded, "Is not water a man's most priceless possession?" Ethiopians relate from this incident the birth of a son whose descendants, the Ethiopian royal house, can trace their family through back to King Solomon and Queen of Sheba. According to the Bible (1 Kings 10; 2 Chronicles 9), the Queen of Sheba herself came to Solomon to press him with questions, and found him to be a wise and wealthy king. The Koran (Sura 27) and the Ethiopian legends add more spice to the story, but it still remains the story of Bilqis or of Makeda, against a background of masculine powers.

The French doctor, Claude Fayein, described Yemeni women working in the farms unveiled. She focused her describtions on the important role of the Yemeni women in the family both as good mothers and wives. She also noted that veiled women in urban Sanaa used to look with astonishment to the rural Yemeni women! Her book about her experiences was translated to Arabic (six editions) with an added introduction by Yemeni celebrity Judge Mohammed Al-Zibairy. In future issues of The Ambassadors, we will discuss the medical issues in old and modern Yemen with reference to the extensive experiences of both German and French doctors, in addition to an archival book about the medical evolution of services in Yemen written by Dr. Abdelmoneim Aly.

We are lucky to have observed a true revolution in Yemen's public history. We witnessed as thousands of Yemeni girls going to new schools throughout the country and tribesmen of the time fought for new roads, clinics, water supplies, and schools for their sons and daughters. Following the setting up of elementary schooling, the establishment of secondary and university education for girls quickly followed. Along with these changes, there was increased industrialization, which brought about jobs for many women. We noticed the excellent effort done by the WHO in Sanaa to train both female and male nurses. In the second edition of my book, Memoirs of a Community Doctor in Yemen (1973), I reported the story of Ms. Asia Al-Amary and Mr. Mohamed Al-Daylami, who were the nurses that helped me setup the first pediatric clinic in Suq Al-Baar, Sanaa.

Nothing can better describe or portray the revolution undergone by Yemeni women in this period than artwork. On December 8, 2001, Mr. Toughan organized with the Yemeni embassy in Egypt a large art gallery which included fifty of his most prominent illustrations about Yemen drawn in 1964. Some of these drawings represented the women of Yemen during that period. The gallery coincided with and commemorated the artist's 75th birthday. Here we will present a few of these expressive drawings as a testament to a period in Yemen's historical development. The gallery of his drawings, which serves as a historical document, is particularly useful to those studying within the disciplines of history, cultural studies and social anthropology. Toughan's gallery will travel to Australia, Canada and Japan in the near future.

Mr. Ibrahim Nafi, Chief Editor of Al-Ahram Newspaper and President of the Union of Arab Journalists greets Mr.Toughan with the two political writers, Mr. Mohamed Auda and Mr. Yousef El-Sherif, authors of books about Yemen

Recently, we met Mrs. Gameela, a Yemeni journalist from Taiz governate, who earned her M.A. from the AUC. She is one of the key figures in the Yemeni Embassy in Egypt and represents an excellent example of women from modern Yemen. She introduced us to the two books entitled, "Yemeni Women in Figures" and "National Report on the Implementation Level of the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women" which are written by Amat al-Aleem Al-Soswa, the Yemeni Ambassador to Netherlands. In the latter book she states that the number of female students in secondary education is increasing. It was 39,061 (1993-94) and became 82,760 (1997-98). Of the females entering university, the majority are in arts, education, medicine and science while the rest are in agriculture, commerce and law. The number of female teachers has increased from 15% in 1994-95 to 18% in 1997-98. These books will be reviewed in more detail in future issues.

Interestingly, Mr. Fouad Al-Futaih, a famous international Yemeni modern artist who has a gallery in Sanaa known to all tourists depicted women in modern Yemen in an untraditional way. Al-Futaih tries to break Yemeni tradition in his art, especially when it comes to women. For more information about his art, visit Worldview Magazine Online.

Herein, we present four stories which represent models of women in modern Yemen. The three interviews we publish here are biographical accounts that were published by the Yemen Observer in several of their previous issues. We would like to thank Mr. Mohammed Al-Asadi from the Yemen Observer for supplying this information and allowing The Ambassadors Magazine to re-publish the stories of these accomplished Yemeni women in their country's modern era.

Dr. Waheeba Fara’ has now been appointed Minister of Human Rights in Yemen. This is a quality success for Prof. Waheeba in particular and the Yemeni women in general. She now becomes the first woman to take up the portfolio of a minister since the realization of the blessed Yemeni Unity ten years ago. Therefore, the Yemen Observer selected Dr. Waheeba to be a full of esprit guest for its readers. She is a Professor at the Faculty of Education, University of Sana’a. She has worked as former Deputy Rector of Faculty of Education. Dr. Waheeba is the Chancellor of Arwa University since the past four years. She is a member in a number of voluntary organizations working in the field of the child, woman and educational unions. She is also a member in the Higher Consultative Commission on Human Rights in Yemen. She is married and is mother of five children. So, she is simultaneously a housewife and a professor.

Q: How did you receive the tiding of your appointment as a minister? Will this affect your family life?
A: I was really surprised to hear the news on the TV and the issuance of a resolution on my appointment as a Minister for Human Rights. We expected from the government more than a woman minister; but I was the only minister.
My appointment as a minister won’t affect my family life. The proof is that I never saw my husband ever happy than the day of the issuance of the resolution and on hearing the news.

Q: Who nominated you for the post of this ministry. Where there any factors which assisted in this regard?
A: I believe scientific qualification, long experience diligence and persistence were behind my nomination. There was neither any personal effort nor any social aspect either at regional or party level. Efficiency and capability were the judge. It is this factor which nominated me for the post. Precisely I did not select this ministry. I was selected. It is a national mission and we should stand firm before it.

Q. What are your plans, which you would adopt, in your new job?
A. Great ambitions. Human rights are plenty, divided into political, cultural and economic scopes. They concerns everybody: man, woman and child.
I believe I will be able to offer more in my new task should it be closer to my field of specialization. This portfolio is new for Yemen and the Arab homeland. It is a necessity, which imposed itself on the arena following the seriousness and credibility of the international community in preserving Human Rights. I hope I succeed and serve everybody. I hope Yemen benefits because it has proved its credibility in this field.

Q: Will your new work effect your activities at the University? And why is it that you are accused of bias for women of your sex particularly as you became a minister now.
A: I don’t believe my new position will effect my supervision and teaching at the University. Both are essential. I can’t stop from practicing these. As far as bias to my sex is concerned, this is true. You know what women are suffering in the Yemeni society particularly in the presence of certain suffocating custom and traditions concerning women.

Q: Do you think after your taking over as a minister, the Yemeni woman has been posted in her natural and correct position?
A: Yes. This recent stand has corrected the conditions of the Yemeni woman. The Yemeni woman is known through history such as Queen Bilquis and Lady Arwa Al-Sulaihi. They played major roles during their reign. Now history is repeating itself. The Yemeni woman now feels proud of the Head of State who gave woman great care. He has honored/ her in a better manner.

Q: What achievements and plans did assist in nominating you as a minister?
A: I took part in a number of activities concerning Child’s Rights. I submitted two reports on the children in Yemen. This is beside my participation in the field of woman activates and woman’s right. I submitted a number of national reports particularly a report on the Yemeni woman, which was submitted at the Beijing Conference. I am a member in the Higher Consultative Commission on Human Rights.

Q: How do you assess Human Rights in Yemen?
A: Human Rights are subject to criteria in any community. There is no disagreement if local criteria correspond with international criteria; but this necessitates cultural peculiarities in each community. Perhaps what others see as legitimate right in a certain community, may not be legitimate from the viewpoint of another community. We should look to a man how he thinks, talks and preserves his peculiarity. Human Rights are complementary; they cannot be separated, be that at political, cultural, intellectual or economic levels. We should move to eliminate illiteracy. The introduction of the new ministry affirms the credibility of State in its defence of human rights. The genuine objective behind it is this idea.

Q: The Arab homeland and Yemen in particular is accused of not observing human rights. Any comment?
A: Definitely there are individual behaviors which have no relation at all with the Constitution or laws. Yemeni laws are quite clear and detest such behaviors and such breaches. As far as Human Right are concerned, these are in form of international conventions which Yemen has signed; so it is committed to such international agreements. Everything does not occur the way we want it to be. Some ill-behaviors occur owing to defects; for instance the presence of dishonest judiciary. We can’t say there are wrongs against human rights; but actually, there are differences in view points with different issues which have no relation with tangible rights and do not have any criterion such as intellectual rights. We are here to direct State policy towards better rights for human being.

Q: How do you evaluate the conditions of the Yemeni woman at political, economic and cultural levels?
A: We are the oldest country in the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf to grant political rights to women in form of voting and elections. At economic level we have strengthened women. Now 70% of women constitute our labor force including those working in agricultural sector. We are striving for cultural rights in form of realizing highest percentage of educated women.

Q: What factors did impede the development of the Yemeni woman?
A. These were ignorance, backwardness and diseases, which we suffered from during the colonial and Imam’s despotic rules.

“Woman’s voice is still unheard”

" Should a woman be educated then this should mean she knows her rights. We need not carry out this intensified campaign of awareness which are launching now in order to make her know her rights," said Mrs. Rashida Al-Hamadani, Chairwoman of the Woman National Committee, Director of Woman Sector at the Prime Ministry. As the recent period witnessed vigorous activities in woman movement leading to women taking up senior posts, including Mrs. Hamadani, the Yemen Observer conducted a frank interview with her. She talked about the conditions of the woman, ways and means to develop woman and her effective role in development. She also talked about the Woman’s National Committee.

I am Mrs. Rasheeda Ali Hamood Al-Hamdani, Chairwoman of Woman’s National Committee (WNC), and Director of Woman’s Sector at the Prime Ministry. I am a graduate in psychology. At the age of sixteen, I worked at the Republican Hospital, Aden; but I continued with my studies. Then I joined the Central Bank of Yemen. After my marriage in Saudi Arabia, I moved to the Gulf States as a representative of Al-Yemenia. On return home, I joined the American Development Agency.

Can we say that your interest in woman’s issue ran concurrent with your work with the government?

No. Since childhood I am a member of the Guidance Movement Organization which is well known for developing the society. I grew up with the curricula of this movement, which were instilled in my brain; therefore I chose the field of woman. I was determined to work for the sake of the woman either through projects or lectures or awareness.

What did you add in the field of work for woman’s rights in your capacity as a Chairman of the WNC?

Honestly speaking, when we are out of the structural framework, we feel that we alone are responsible for all affairs. When I took over as head of the WNC this apparatus, I found a lot of problems and issues which women face. I was really worried as I was far away from these. Then I felt the onus of the responsibility. In fact, on one hand, there are positive and negative aspects and on the other there are clear and ambiguous or gloomy affairs also. But, there are many issues which the woman herself should be aware of; mainly her rights in the light of regulations and the Constitution which are absent as they are not applied owing to woman’s own ignorance.

It is education only, which could make a woman know what is in her favor and what is against her. The second thing is finance, which is always in the hands of the man. Woman’s earning even goes to the man; thus she becomes a mere serf or shadow of the man. It is difficult to mend this gap; but it should not be overlooked. Should she be called to attend a course or a meeting, she cannot because she does not have the money for transportation. Finance plays a role in politics and economy. A woman is helpless; but where is her energy? We know her voice is unheard. We still need awareness. Perhaps, a man may believe that he can be away from the society; but he can’t be shunning half of the society, which is the woman. Because a woman converts to be selfless, it is she who provides half of her children’s needs.

May we take it this way that strengthening a woman at economical and political levels can solve her problems? What role does the WNC play in this regard?

The WNC came into existence owing to the great efforts exerted by Mrs. Amat-al-Aleem Al-Souswa (now the Ambassador of Yemen to the Netherlands). Her tireless efforts kept the committee in existence. I am here to see that the committee continues to survive. The very presence of the committee means recognition from the State in this section of people, which represents half of the society.

It is an administrative and consultative apparatus attached to the State. Its objective is to map out strategies and plans for the gender. We have prepared the first and the second five-year plan beside the annual plans, which we prepare. We carry out awareness programs throughout the provinces. The program is implemented through female coordinators. The WNC has female members at all ministries. We prepare special studies on woman and check the extent of benefit which women obtain through our awareness programs. We also study certain laws mainly those, which contained a sort of discrimination against women. Three weeks ago we were able to obtain the approval of the Cabinet to amend such laws. Last May we re-structured the WNC, which enabled us, create a network for civil society. Now we have a collection of female members from public societies. The collection now works as a link between the WNC and their societies. We also visit the ministries and acquaint then with the duties of the WNC.

How can you describe the conditions of a Yemeni woman in the society at political level?

I should be frank with you. If the political leadership wants something to occur then it does. For instance, when it decided to have a woman minister in the Cabinet, it did so. On the other hand, the society accepted that woman to be a Minister of State for Human Rights. The acceptance by the society of such an appointment played a major role in giving woman her rights. Now we are demanding that 30% of the total seats in both the Parliament and Local Councils should be allowed to women. We could not demand 50% owing to the standard of education of women, which does not exceed that percentage. With due respect to all the political parties, we cannot see a woman holding the post of secretary general of any political party. We don’t know where the defect lies?

Women have begun organizing themselves in this respect. They have established a group of businesswomen and a number of economic societies at both government and civil levels. Agricultural cooperatives and general development associations are unfortunately confined to men. The look at woman continues to be inferior despite her influence over economy mainly in the rural areas where her produce constitutes a living for the family. Woman is still reluctant to open any company or secure loans to work in business.

Until recently the expression of ‘gender’ is in use repeatedly whereas sheiks and preachers at mosques keep criticizing it. What is it all about?

I can’t find any reason for sensitive towards this expression. Man and woman, according to this expression, have been divided merely for individual development sake. All of us are pious and we don’t accept any replacement of our Sharia. We can’t deviate from this. We have our norms, which we have to preserve; but we have traditions, which impede what woman should have. We don’t demand except what Shar’a (laws) provides for woman. Our demands are not illogical. How is it that biased men speak of Islam whereas they refrain from applying what Shar’a (laws) calls upon them?

In your opinion, what could motivate woman’s participation in development?

I can say that media alone has a major role to play in this regard. It is the media, which can focus light on exemplary women who have reached the apex of their standard leaving behind their fingerprints on development and the awake of Yemen. After reading or listening to the achievements of these women, others may follow suit. There is no harm at all in woman’s participation in development in all fields of life. Regrettably, the media still illustrates woman in that old, shoddy and boring manner denying that almost 30% of women assist in domestic expenditure. Such wrong features must disappear from the media. Why should we continue to live under the cover of customs and traditions, which contradict, with the current conditions of the society?

What are the other difficulties other than those you have mentioned and which a woman counters?

I may summaries the sufferings and problems of a woman in a number of main points. The first is the unawareness of the society of woman’s participation in the society because development could not come alone through man and man only. The second is the insufficient financial resources so that we are able to play our genuine role as a national committee this is because our female members in the provinces do not have the tools for their work. The political leadership represented in the Prime Minister and also the Minister of Finance promised us financial aid for our members in the provinces; but unfortunately nothing has been done so far. Through the Yemen Observer I would like to send this message reminding the political leadership of its pledge. Honestly speaking, we have some governors who assist us morally. The third point is that we don’t have any club or center for females; all are confined to males. Attention should be given to this subject. The fourth is that political parties should offer opportunities to females. It is not enough to use their votes during elections. They should listen to her sufferings and provide solutions. And, the last is the curse of illiteracy which stands like a stumble block in the development of woman.

Naseela Ahmed Mansour Al-Awlaki is the first Yemeni professional horsewoman. She started it as a pastime when she was nine in Yemen, then she continued in Germany with her father who encouraged her so much wishing that one day he would have a horsewoman and a daughter at the same time. Her family is a very conservative one from Al-Awlik province, Shabwa. She admires very much the best ever Yemeni knight and fighter, Khawla bint Al-Azwar. Naseela was born in Sana’a in 1978. She visited many countries both Arab and European. In addition to horsemanship, she likes marksmanship and painting. Yemen Observer interviewed this talented Yemeni Girl and here is what we came up with.

* I loved horses madly since I was a little child and I rode a horse for the first time when I was 9. Then I practiced more and more when I was with my father in Germany. There we used to go to the horses stables and equestrian clubs where I stated with a woman trainer, but I did not go on with it. Before that my father and I had been going to Bani Heshaish province (20 km west of Sana’a) where some Dutch friends of father’s had some horses. I played with and rode these horses. And when the Yemen Equestrian Club was opened, I came early in the morning to practice alone and that was the real beginning.

* First I was I was encouraged by my family then the Club staff and first of all, my trainer Captain Mohammed Hussein Al-Kommali. People were astonished when they saw a girl ride a horse and jump hurdles.

* One month was enough. Intensive exercises and my love for horses as well as my inherent yearning for riding horses helped me. There is also the confidence granted to me by my family and the club Staff.

* Our Yemeni society is a traditional and conservative one. I do not bother about this as long as my family is supporting me and so long as I am convinced of my hobby and have self-confidence. Nevertheless, society has begun to accept the matter and I receive respect from it because I respect and practice my talent.

* Horsemanship is not a new sport. It was practiced before Islam and in the age of Prophet Mohammed (may peace be upon him). Outstanding horsewomen were known. Tow of them were Khawla bint Al-Azwar from Yemen who was an unrivalled horsewoman and Al-Khansa and others whom I consider my exemplars. Commander of the Faithful, Omar bin Al-Khattab also ordered Muslims to teach their children marksmanship and horsemanship.

* My favorite horse is called Al-Mughira whom I get along with easily. There is also Al-Zaher, the Club’s fiercest horse. It is of a noble origin Arabic species.

* This relationship is as old as the man himself. An intimate relationship could be developed between the horse and its rider through familiarity, passion, friendship and the rider’s compassion and kindness toward the horse while riding, training and, especially, when feeding it. Only then the horse can be an obedient slave that fears for, helps and ease the training process of its rider particularly in races. The horseman, on the other hand, must have so much self-confidence lest the horse should feel his diffidence and drop him.

My relationship with my horse is very excellent. It understands me very well. And my compassion for it makes it adore me. I pamper it with chocolate something that makes it very joyful. My relationship with horses is better than that with human beings and I believe that the horse can be man’s best friend.

* Horses are of two kinds: Arabic pedigreed horses and hybrids. The first are known by their gracefulness and agility, being not too high, having big, round eyes and being hot-blooded. People who still have some of these horses know very well their origins, fathers and ancestors, their countries of origin, and family trees.

* I see horsemanship as the best sport girls can practice in any society especially our Yemeni society, Arabism source and Arabic horses’ country of origin. It is the most suitable and gentlest sport that suits the woman nature more than any other sport. I find woman and horsemanship are the same thing.

I call upon women to practice all kinds of sport because it is very important. There are good signs of interest for women sport on the part of our State. What we need is consistency because the sound mind is in the healthy body.

There are many girls who are training to be horsewomen in our club, but only over 20 practice to be professionals. A special hall was built for this purpose.

* I was nominated by the Club and my trainer in March this year to participate in Qatar because they trust me. I refused because I was a professional for only four months. I respect my abilities and trust them, but I preferred to postpone any participation for a year to get more experienced. Now I am ready and if I do, I will win, God willing.

* I see it to be so bright and I am very optimistic. The reason is our President’s patronage for women. He gave them good opportunities and he still gives them more so we now we see a minister woman and ambassador woman.

Yemeni woman was also granted political, social and economic rights that are hers. The President would give more and more. In my opinion, this is the Yemeni woman golden era due to the political leadership’s patronage.

* I want to tell them that they can major almost in field or specialty under patronage of the knight of Arabs, President Ali Abdullah Saleh who has given women an important role in the society. I also wish that our society would change its view of the woman and believe that she can do many important things.

I say to the Yemeni girl that if she intends to do anything, she should have so much self-confidence. For this I am sure of her success, and the society will look at her with pride instead of astonishment.

A further more in-depth analysis of the history, culture and people's lifestyle will be presented in the coming episodes to this series published in the coming issue of The Ambassadors Magazine.Al-Futaih

Factory workers in National Cigarette Factory in Ma'alla (1989).

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Amat al-aleem Al-Soswa. Yemeni Women in Figures. 2nd edtion. Sanaa: UNICEF, 1996.

Fawzia Hamed-Women and Health after Beijing-Sana'a Yemeni Family Care Association-What Is After Beijing Symposium,March 6,!996

Manfred W. Wenner. Modern Yemen, 1948-1966. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1967.

Mohamed Mohsen Al-Zahiri. The Political Role of Tribes in Yemen. (In Arabic - al-Dor al-Siyasy lil-Kabila fi al-Yaman). Madbooly Publishers, Cairo, 1996.

Nooria Ahmed & Asma Albasha. Legal Dimension and its reflections on women status in Yemen.

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Vincent Tucker (ed.) Cultural Perspectives on Development. London: Frank Cass and EADI, 1997.

T. I. Farag

A. S. Toughan

Prof. Talaat I. Farag, MD, FRCP(Edin), FACP, is a community geneticist and syndromologist. Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Email: tfarag@is.dal.ca.

Mr. Ahmed S. Toughan is an international cartoonist, journalist and political analyst. He is one of the founders of Al-Gomhorriya daily newspaper (1953), Cairo, Egypt. Email: toughan@access.com.eg