A statement of condemnation and denunciation issued by the Feminist Summit regarding the assassination of the leader, Aftehan Al-Mashhari.
Arabian Sea Newspaper - Special
Arabian Sea - Yemen - Follow-ups: The Women's Summit issued a statement of condemnation and denunciation following the heinous crime that claimed the life of the fellow activist Iftihan al-Mashhari, Director of the Cleaning Fund in Taiz Governorate. The statement affirmed that this crime represents a dangerous precedent in targeting leading women in Yemen. The summit considered that what happened is not just an individual assassination, but a systematic threat message against every woman who holds a public position. The following is the text of the statement: With hearts filled with pain and anger, we received the news of the assassination of our colleague and friend, the activist Iftihan al-Mashhari, Director of the Cleaning Fund in Taiz Governorate, in a heinous crime committed by treacherous hands representing elements of terrorism and corruption. What happened is a dangerous precedent in the history of Yemen, as our country has never witnessed the assassination of a woman holding a leading position in the state, which constitutes a blatant attack on the sanctity of Yemeni women and on the values and traditions of society, as well as being a systematic targeting of the voice of reform in an institution that has long suffered from corruption. We at the Women's Summit condemn this heinous crime in the strongest terms, and affirm that the local authorities and security services in Taiz's failure or inability to protect women leaders and national cadres will not exempt anyone from responsibility. We hold them fully responsible for revealing the circumstances of this crime, pursuing the perpetrators, and ensuring that they are held accountable in a fair and deterrent manner. We also affirm that this crime represents a serious warning to all women in Yemen who are playing leadership roles in extremely difficult circumstances, and places a greater responsibility on society as a whole to protect women and support their participation in public life without fear or threat. May God have mercy on the martyr Iftihan al-Mashhari, and make her pure blood a curse on the killers and the corrupt, and an incentive to continue the struggle for justice, equality, and human dignity. Issued by: The Women's Summit Yemen - Aden September 18, 2025
