Category Archives: Yemen
A Quick Note on Demonstrations in Yemen
This is what it looked like when Yemenis gathered to demonstrate for political change, a better future, and the end of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh’s 33 year rule. Week after week, the crowds stretched on in both directions. Does quite a lot to put the numbers at Thursday and Friday’s anti-film protests into perspective.
Market, Beit al-Faqih
Of mustaches and men
Around my senior year in college, I remember, as I was discussing my post-graduation plans with my father, I mentioned that I was getting more and more serious about moving back to the Middle East after graduation. He balked at the idea, though (at least ostensibly) not for the obvious reasons. Rather than citing more common concerns of safety and the like, he instead pointed to my lack of facial hair.
“You’ll never be able to pull it off,” he said, half-joking (but still, half-serious). “You’ll never be able to get any respect in that part of the world without a mustache.”
While its faded from ubiquity it once enjoyed among western elites, the mustache largely retains the prominence its long enjoyed in the Arab World. Brandished by men ranging from Gulf royals and Baathist autocrats to civil servants and cab drivers, the mustache is hard to avoid in the region.
Injured police cadet, Sanaa
Home of a prominent political figure, Aden, Yemen
Felt compelled to get a photo after completing an interview in an adjacent room. A remarkably jarring color scheme.
Salafism, Swedish Fish and Said
Birthday shipment from my parents.
A Sanaa Restaurant Guide
For various reasons, I’ve opted to move this from a post to a page. The guide is now accessible here; that is, via a tab at the top of the screen.
Yemeni Motel Art
Painting decorating the hallway of the hotel where i staying in Aden, which is arguably the hottest city on earth.
The Changing face of Yemeni Media?
The front page of Al-Thawra, Yemen’s top state-run newspaper on Jan 25th, (coincidentally) the one year anniversary of the start of protests against Mubarak. Reads “Basindowa visits Change Square,” photo shows Mohamed Salem Basindowa, longtime opposition politician and Prime Minister since late last year and Yemeni Nobel Laureate/activist Tawakkol Karman. There have been a lot of shake-ups in state media since the signing of the GCC Deal, but it was still rather jarring to see such a headline on a what was once a staunchly pro-Saleh newspaper.
