Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
Women participating in a peaceful demonstration in Yemen’s interim capital, Aden, were assaulted on Saturday evening by security forces affiliated with the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), according to local sources.
The protest called for improvements to basic services such as electricity and water, payment of salaries, stabilization of the currency, and efforts to curb the spread of diseases.
Sources reported that STC forces blocked access to Al-Oroudh Square in Aden, where demonstrators had planned to gather. Despite the security blockade, dozens of women managed to assemble in the square.
A statement from the women’s protest, held at Al-Oroudh Square, emphasized that their demonstration was not for fame or recognition, but a result of the worsening living conditions, which had reached unbearable levels. The statement declared that remaining silent at this stage would be a betrayal.
The statement outlined the protesters’ demands for their legitimate rights, foremost among them the right to a dignified life and social justice. It also called for the provision of essential services such as electricity, water, healthcare, education, timely payment of salaries, and improved living conditions in the city.
The women noted that they took to the streets after witnessing the extent of injustice and decline in Aden, especially following the suppression of previous male-led protests. They affirmed their commitment to continue raising their voices until their demands are met.
The protest statement held the Saudi-Emirati coalition, the Presidential Leadership Council, and the STC responsible for the collapse in services and living standards, as well as the failure to manage liberated areas and the ongoing security abuses and arbitrary detentions of civilians.
Meanwhile, the Coordination Committee for Civil and Human Rights Forces condemned the assault, calling it a “moral and legal crime.” It affirmed that peaceful protest is a constitutional right and blamed local authorities for failing to respond to citizens’ demands. The committee also warned of the social instability that could result from such repression.
Similarly, the Cairo Center for Human Rights and the Yemeni Coalition for Human Rights denounced the ban on protests, calling it a violation of fundamental freedoms. In a joint statement, they highlighted the suffering of Aden residents due to power outages, water shortages, and currency collapse—conditions that have repeatedly driven people to protest.
The organizations criticized the authorities’ use of repression instead of addressing the root causes of discontent. They emphasized that the blanket ban on public gatherings violates international standards and is fueling growing public anger.
