By: Yasser M. Ahmed
Yemen Times
It is that complicated social problem in our country which appeared during olden ages and thrived during colonial rule. Then it continued as if to last for ever. It has been the product of injustice among people in addition to suppression and various kinds of fanaticism.
Vengeance in our country represents a threat to the society and heralds serious consequences. With the increase of awareness and education, this phenomenon has drastically receded but its spectre is still overshadowing some areas, particularly remote regions where ignorance is still prevailing.
All religions have denounced this crime and set the severest punishments against those committing it. And, like all other religions, Islam too has put restrictions on this crime and Holy Quran through different verses has warned against it.
Illiteracy and spread of weapons are the fuel of this crime. The Muslim people of Yemen look at vengeance as an acute behavior which can kill even an innocent.
We have talked to few citizens over means to eradicate revenge in our society. Abdulrazzack Mehdi Ali Salem, a student of Islamic studies at the faculty of arts, University of Sana’a, said:- “ Besides the blind tribal discrimination, revenge is generally a problem. It is an act where a person decides to be a judge without referring to the official channels such as courts. From olden days to date vengeance has created a state of unrest. If we take the reasons, we see that the perpetrator is debarred from respect to his own religion. He does not fear the Creator. He has no regard to the consequences of his crime. Bribery, injustice and slow proceedings at courts mostly lead to killings. Appointment of unqualified judges who lack knowledge of Islamic Sharee’a should cease and proper appointments made particularly in remote areas.
Sufyan Ahmed Ismail, a court clerk is of the opinion that pride plays a role in acts of revenge. The doer feels himself degraded to go through courts. He prefers to take the law into his own hands. Of course this is attributed to ignorance. He does not care for the serious consequences. Perhaps such criminal could have got justice done to him and in his favor; but he loses everything. Most vengeance cases are linked to dispute over land and heirship.
Nasser Muhammed said that delay of legal proceedings makes the family of the murdered feel that justice is out of reach. In some cases instead of killing one person against one person, a whole family is wiped out. The authorities concerned have not been active enough to curb this uncivilized act, we see that the citizens themselves should come together to confront this phenomenon.
Mr. Muhammed Ali Al-Iryani, Secretary of “Al-Qadaeeya” newspaper blamed the careless role of the media. Citizens must be told how revenge creates widows and orphans. “Well-organised radio and TV programs, as well in the press, can help a lot to make people know what is fair and what is not. Drama series and touching short stories could assist; but I think continued and repeated symposia would be better.”
Less than two years ago, Mr. Abdulrehman Al-Marooni founded Assallam Arbitration House which carries out mediations between individuals and tribesmen over disputes and feuds. Among its dissemination program, the house works on spreading awareness on murder, assault on sanctity and bloodshed at religious, human and cultural levels. Until this date the house has been able to solve 52 cases of feud some of which were 30-year-old.
Dr. Muhammed Awadh Ba-Obaid, Head of Psychology Section at Sana’a University sees that vengeance is a socio-cultural phenomenon. It has more than a dimension, including criminal; but the element dominating this state is socio-cultural-psychological. It all starts from the culture of violence in form of family violence, violence against women and the worse is violence among the youth which in fact generates since childhood. A child is taught to become the hero of his family by avenging. You can hear a boasting father telling people his son is a man! Unfortunately, in the eyes of unqualified judges a hungry man who steals is believed to have committed a crime more serious than killing someone on grounds of vengeance.
Another psychologist at Sana’a University, Dr. Abdulla Gassem Abu Ragheef after reviewing the historical background of revenge said that Arab families keep feeding their children since childhood that vengeance is part of one’s personality. The avenger’s action is symbolized with courage and dignity. The child is taught since his early age that tribalism is the honor of an individual. And a right to killing is not taken but is snatched. The psychologist could not condone educational institutions for their coma. These are too far away from the social problems of our society. “The same is with the media”, the doctor said.

Jalal Al-Sharaabi
Yemen Times
A decade has elapsed since the declaration of unity and emergence of democracy, associated with freedom of opinion and expression. Numerous newspapers are beingpublished by political, as well as independent parties all of which have made every effort to woo the reader.
More than 70 daily and weekly newspapers are published in Yemen, most of which are controlled by men. A few independent women newspapers have been issued during the last decade, such as Al-Mar’ah (The Woman,) Al-Yamaniah (The Yemeni Woman,) which is published by the National Committee for Women and Adam wa Hawa (Adam & Eve.) However they haven’t dealt with women’s issues as they should.
Local analysts and observers are of the view that control of the state over women’s newspapers constitutes the main block on the way of real women’s press, while it is attributed by others to cracks in women’s groups.
While many women deny that, some of them think that lack of qualified cadre is all that matters.
Recent statements of Minister of Information show an official trend towards encouraging the establishment of non-governmental women press. So far there have been no signs of credibility and sincerity in these pledges. There is an intended official ignorance towards this issue, a number of women say.
satisfying themselves with allocation of a quarter or half a page for women’s matters, opposition parties have not been more considerate in this regard. There have been no sign of encouragement to women writers.
It is really a tragedy. Still more tragic is the fact that available women’s papers fail to present women as active participants in the political life and development
Local observers indicate that women’s share in democracy is little and that many hurdles make them no more than blind tools exploited by parties. A legal observer wonders why women’ unions and committees have not presented a serious women’s press or call for it.
For collection of more information on our topic I met a number of women writers in different press channels. To my astonishment, “WE WANT TO LIVE,” was the first response I got from one of them before she went off. She was afraid of her position, I thought.
At Saba news agency, the only official news agency in the country, I met Ikram Al-Akouri, editor who said that lack of women- specialized press was attributed to the over all lack of specialized press in general. It is men who control press and it is they who think women’s issues are not worthy to be written about, she said.
Asked about whether available women newspapers have demonstrated serious and successful attempts to bring women’s issues to light, she said that they tried their best. However, she added that lack of experience prevent the excellent and objective projection of such issues. “The only paper controlled by the government suffers lack of support and it does not mirror the real condition of Yemeni women. This is the case of the other two newspapers. The problem is that women newspapers, like others, appeared without concrete studies of women’s attitudes, desires, worries that they want the society and the world to read about. Ironically, some people call for women writers to write about women’s issues, as if women’s issues are confined to women. People should feel that women’s issues touch the whole society. Therefore they should not be confined to women with their little experiences. Men should not put them in a challenge, they are required to help,” she concluded.
‘Al-Ro’iah’( The Vision) is the title of one of the women newspaper that emerged in the 1990s; it closed down after a short time owing to lack of funding. Its chief-editor, Huda Al-Hamdani, said Al-Ro’iah did not focus on only women issues and that the largest part of its staff were men. Existence of a real women press should be associated with real objective and accurate journalism and above all is associated with a sincere official commitment to support it, she said.
Absence of women newspapers is attributed to the attitude of society towards women, she added. All authorities concerned should join efforts in order to get rid of that problem. We pin great hopes on the Minister of Information who always encourage press in general and women writers in particular, she concluded.
The Ministry of Information is not serious in creating women’s press, said Samiah Al-Aghbari of( Al-Wahdawi). Women writers are teased, interrogated and even threatened of death. She said that opposition parties do not publish specialized women newspaper due to lack of facilities. Some opposition newspapers ask donators for support in its first pages she added.
Eftikar Al-Qadhi of Al-Thawrah official newspaper referred to lack of women cadre and financial support.
Whether or nor the available women newspapers and magazines in the market touch women’s issues, she said that they focused on secondary things such as make up, fashion and outward appearance. I wish to see real press that is concerned of Arab women’s rights before what is new in the world of mode, she commented. There must be specialized and qualified cadre to be able to establish women press, she added.
Kawkab Al-Wadee, editorial secretary of the Al-Yamaniah said lack of women newspapers was because of lack of women journalists. Journalism is a very difficult and tiring job that needs devotion and continuous search for information, she said. She added: “Our work does not end by leaving our offices. Unfortunately the society still look down upon women working in this field.” In addition she said that women’s experience in this field was still young. Only three newspapers are there namely, Al-Yamaniah, Adam and Eve, and Al-Mar’ah, all were founded in the 1990s, she explained. Funding is also another stumbling block in the way of establishing more women’s newspapers, she said. “Women have faced many economic, social, legal and health challenges. I can not say that the newspapers mentioned already tackle such problems boldly and sincerely. Those newspapers are run by individuals who are more keen on and aware of materialistic gains even at the expense of women affairs and concerns.
As far as Al-Yamaniah is concerned, though published by the Women National Committee and supervised by the cabinet, none imposes any kind of limitation on its freedom. It has dealt with many vital issues that are of great concern to women such as violence against women, child labor, necessity of women existence in the security corps, women’s rights concerning inheritance, etc.,” she said.
Unlike others who have spoken to us, she said that it was lack of good readers which was the real problem of women’s press. She suggested holding a seminar on press problems in our country to discuss means of improving and developing journalism.
Manal Al-kindi, journalist for Al-Yamaniah newspaper said: “Lack of women’s newspapers has many reasons such as the general belief that women are unable to hold high positions and make decisions, lack of facilities and inability of colleges to graduate women cadre, etc.” She suggested a thorough study on women’s issues and means of solving them and realizing the importance of the existence of women’s press.
What next?
Women’s press remains a controversial issue in opposition and governmental organs. The official authorities should give the issue of women’s leadership full attention. Among tens of newspapers only 6 are managed by women. Unfortunately even these newspapers do not tackle women’s issues. The problem is there, and the solution can by through the government and opposition parties adoption of women press that is concerned with the many problems of Yemeni women.

Where there is a will there is a way. Based on this proverb a way has now been opened for settling tribal issues and civilian lawsuits in quite a unique manner in Hodeidah Province. Here, courts are over-crowded with different-nature cases; some protracted and some complicated; yet citizens always want quick solutions and settlement of their cases.
An experienced, heavyweight Sheikh who cares for the value of life has eventually offered his services to stave off bloodshed. He is aware that illiteracy in itself is a killer.
Yemen Times’s Mrs. Sabah Al-Qutaili was in Hodeidah. From there she has despatched her interview which she had with Sheikh Abdulwahab Sinan, Head of the Arbitration House.

Q: While in Hodeidah, I heard of an Arbitration House (Dar al-Tahkeem). Would you please tell us about it?

A: Yes, we have such a house here. It holds 150 sheikhs representing the tribes in Hodeidah, 50 scholars and 30 counsels. Because problems and disputes have increased, courts are over-crowded with different-nature cases. I never mean to say that all courts have failed to deal with these cases; but in many instances, courts needed time whereas citizens do not like protracted proceedings. They do not like any delay. In some cases courts find themselves overweary with that heap of pending and current files which await action. This situation has in many instances aggravated the problems and sometimes caused disputes develop into fightings and ‘civil wars,’. Therefore, in an attempt to minimize such cases, an Arbitration House has been established.

Q: What solutions does the House offer to these increasing number of cases and, so far how many cases has the House solved?

A: Normally we have one sheikh from each tribe at this House. For example, there, where a ‘civil war’ ensues, the sheikh of that area rushes to the scene. With the help of his men he imposes an immediate ‘cease-fire’ followed by a truce. Such cases are solved purely on tribal norms. Such kind of reconciliations carry many a meanings.

Q: How do you finanace running the House? How do tribes and the state deal with the House?

A: To this moment there is no source for funding this House; but in itself it represents a symbol of an authority. I do not know when the State shall come to our assistance. Tribesmen find that this House brings peace to them. However, to some extent, donations are accepted with gratitude.

Q: Is the House a substitute for courts?
A: No. Never. Courts have never proved failure; but the piles of files are so big in number that they can not deal with all these in time. The House is no more than a helping-hand to courts. Minor cases related to Islamic Shari’a and those of tribal nature are immediately solved , so the number of cases does not swell.

Q: Do official institutions cooperate with this House? Do they assist in any way?

A: Suffice it to say that the President himself has called for the necessity of cooperation while dealing with blood and feud issues.

Q: Is there any difficulty which your House faces? How do you think such could be solved?

A: Until this moment we do not have any difficulty other than financial support. The House’s expenditures are high.

Q: What are your future expectations?
A: Our aim is just to keep affairs going on smoothly through understanding and reconciliations; particularly where blood and feud are involved. Should such issues come under control, security is then reinforced. Our main aim is to bring intimacy, affinity and harmony because Yemen is like one family.

Q: Is there any consultative body at the House? Have you any relations with foreign and international organizations such as Human Rights Organization?

A: At the House we have wise people, sheikhs and advisors. All are qualified and efficient men. Once the affairs of this very House are organized, we shall have contacts with foreign and international bodies. Until now everything is going well.

Q: What are the nature of crimes in your society?
A: Mostly, we have murders, rape, seduction and breach of human rights.

Q: Any irritating memory of certain case?
A: Yes. Some cases of murder and fatal injuries; but these come within the tribal norms jurisdictions. Some of such cases are still pending but we are determined to sort them out.

Q: Any statistics?
A: Of course we keep a record of all cases. These are written and endorsed in our registers. Most of these have been published in newspapers.