Women journalists stage sit-in protesting discrimination [Archives:2007/1072/Front Page]

Saddam Al-Ashmouri
For Yemen Times
SANA'A, July 29 ) A number of women journalists and civil society organization activists staged a sit-in on Wednesday before the Parliament in protest of discrimination against them.

Women Journalists Without Chains chairman Tawkel Karman noted that she came with other women to denounce the discrimination exercised by the government as it unblocked all news services provided through GSM companies with the exception of Women Journalists Without Chains news service because it is released by women.

Karman further hinted that it is time to support women especially when a woman is capable of possessing media means and has the ability to make the news, however, the government works against this wish.

She viewed the non-response of the government to the Parliament resolution calling for unblocking Without Chains news services to be evidence that we live in a uncontrolled state, where there is no meaning for the parliament's unanimity or its resolutions.

In a copy of a released statement, Women Journalists Without Chains expressed its disappointment over the government not unblocking its news services, considering the non-acceptance of the government to give it the license to have a paper and the block of its news service as a loathsome discrimination, particularly when it deprives women from serving the society and raising the awareness of its members.

The statement also called on Parliament to work for the implementation of its resolution issued on July 16, which dictated lifting the block imposed on Without Chains news service.

Meanwhile, the organization called all women activists to participate in the women's demonstration due to be staged before the Parliament next Sunday. They also called on media outlets to participate in covering the demonstration in defense of women's rights. They further urged Yemeni Journalists Syndicate to work in removing the block imposed on their news service.

The sit-in scheduled for Sunday before the Parliament will include women sending letters to the members of Parliament demanding them to take a serious stand on the continued censorship of Without Chains. The women will then head to Freedom Square, before the Cabinet building, requesting implementation of Parliament's resolution.
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