Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights activist Tawakkol Karman stated that the 62nd anniversary of the glorious September 26 Revolution arrives while the country remains engulfed in total chaos.
She noted that the sponsors of chaos in Yemen possess a surplus of ideology and financial resources, making the pursuit of fair solutions a challenging endeavor.
In her speech marking this significant anniversary, Karman emphasized that there had not been a singular coup against the Yemeni state; rather, there had been multiple coups, all of which were orchestrated and supported from external sources.
Karman expressed deep regret over the country being stripped of its national sovereignty and control over its own affairs, a truth recognized by every Yemeni. She lamented the oppressive conditions under which the Yemeni people have suffered, criticizing the prevailing regime for its disregard of the people's rights and interests.
Reflecting on the legacy of the Imamate system, she described it as a model of decadence and injustice, where people endured inhumane conditions. Karman asserted that the Yemeni people deserve a dignified life, which is not a favor from anyone but a fundamental right.
She condemned the Houthis, highlighting their attempts to obscure the truth of the September 26 Revolution. Karman characterized the Houthis as embodying a profound betrayal in Yemeni history, noting their oppressive regime marked by taxation and corruption. She stressed that their agenda was rooted in a delusional belief that Yemen belonged to a specific family, based on a distorted religious interpretation.
Addressing the myths propagated by the Houthis, Karman stated that these narratives lead to chaos and destruction, rejecting essential principles such as citizenship, democracy, and a free press. She expressed confidence that their destructive project would ultimately fail, reinforcing her belief in the resilience of the Yemeni people.
Karman called on her audience to embody the values of the September 26 and October 14 revolutions, emphasizing that freedom, justice, equal citizenship, and national independence must never be compromised. She pointed out the need for genuine leadership that prioritizes the well-being of the nation, urging the authority of the so-called Presidential Leadership Council to fulfill its responsibilities in protecting the people.
Critically, she noted the errors made by some individuals within the legitimacy camp who attempt to mimic the Houthis, asserting that those who compromise their national honor are unlikely to make courageous decisions to help end the conflict.
Concluding her remarks, Karman reiterated the need for committed leaders who can guide the people out of chaos and restore the state. She expressed her belief in the capacity of the Yemeni people to rise again, drawing strength from their history and heritage. Karman affirmed her vision of Yemen as a democratic and independent republic, where its people stand free and dignified against any form of guardianship.
Here is the complete speech
Peace upon the glorious Revolution of September 26th.
Peace upon its good people and loyal sons.
Peace upon the faithful youth who resolved to destroy the idol
and fulfilled their promises on an unforgettable day and moment.
Peace upon the heroes and martyrs of the glorious revolutions of September 26th and October 14th,
and all the heroes and martyrs of the Yemeni national movement.
We do not differentiate between any of them, remaining steadfast in our positions without any alteration.
Peace upon them in the first and the last.
Peace be upon you, my brothers and sisters, wherever you may be in our cherished Yemen and beyond.
As we commemorate the sixty-second anniversary of the illustrious September 26 Revolution, our nation remains engulfed in turmoil, with militias asserting dominance and perpetrating humiliation.
For several years, the situation in Yemen has been starkly evident, despite the attempts of some individuals to disseminate misleading narratives and fabricated lies. It is important to recognize that there has not been a singular coup against the Yemeni state; rather, there have been multiple coups, all orchestrated and supported from external sources.
It is deeply lamentable to witness our country stripped of its national sovereignty, lacking control over its own affairs. This is a realization shared by every Yemeni man and woman, a truth that cannot be overlooked. The sponsors of chaos in Yemen have an excess of ideology and money, which has made reaching fair solutions not an easy task.
Brothers and sisters,
I will not reveal anything new in stating that the Imamate system exemplifies a profound model of decadence and injustice, under which people endured inhumane conditions and were subjected to a priestly tyranny that forced their lives to oscillate between ignorance, poverty, disease, and superstition.
Our people have experienced unparalleled suffering, as the regime founded on taxation, ignorance, and isolation showed little regard for their affairs and interests. Today, the Yemeni people recalls that dark era with a renewed determination to overcome its oppressive legacy, for the Yemeni people deserve a dignified life, and this is not a favor granted by anyone.
Tyrants, in every time and place, often perceive peoples as mere slaves to their whims or soldiers in their senseless conflicts. However, they eventually come to realize the folly of believing in their twisted fantasies and confront the painful and harsh realities of their own fates.
Today, Yemenis around the world unite to honor the September 26 Revolution and its heroes, reflecting on the suffering endured by their fathers and grandfathers under the oppressive rule of the defunct Imams. I am filled with pride at the determination of our people, especially the spirited Yemeni youth, to commemorate this significant occasion.
Only the Houthis stand in opposition, embodying a profound betrayal in our history as they attempt to obscure the truth of the September 26 Revolution. They are acutely aware that they represent nothing more than a lamentable continuation of the Imamate.
Setting aside the outdated ideology and beliefs of the Houthis, it is evident that they have demonstrated, over the past years, that they are an authority characterized by oppression, taxation, and corruption. Their dismal project bears no relation to the genuine Yemeni national project. The Houthi agenda is rooted in a delusional notion that Yemen is the spoils of a specific family, based on a distorted religious interpretation—an idea that can never be accepted.
Many myths surround us, but those adopted by the Houthis lead to death and destruction. They reject the principles of citizenship, democracy, peaceful transfers of power, political parties, and a free press. The policies and narratives of the Houthis seek to revert Yemen to a medieval mindset. However, I possess the utmost certainty, knowledge, and faith in our people, and I firmly assert that they will not succeed in their endeavors, and that their destructive project will ultimately fail.
Brothers and sisters,
In these challenging times, we must embody the values of the glorious revolutions of September 26 and October 14, for this is the path out of this hellish spiral. Freedom, justice, equal citizenship, and national independence are fundamental values that must never be compromised. This should be evident to all; some may reject the Houthi coup against these values while accepting similar actions from others. The republic is not a mere whim; a true republican is one who steadfastly rejects anything that undermines its essence and integrity.
In this context, it is essential to state clearly that the authority of the so-called Presidential Leadership Council is failing to fulfill its duties in protecting the people and establishing institutions on national foundations. Unfortunately, this authority lacks a serious plan to confront and dismantle the coup, restore the state and political decision-making, and reject foreign guardianship.
One of the serious errors made by some individuals within the legitimacy camp is their attempt to mimic the Houthis’ approach to governance, public funds, and their neglect of people’s rights and interests. I doubt they will self-reflect, repent, or help end this war and division, as those who compromise their national honor and become instruments of external forces are unlikely to make such a brave decision.
Absolutely, our people deserve leaders who are committed to genuine governance and the well-being of the nation. They need officials and statesmen who will lead them out of the cycle of war and chaos, restore the state, and reestablish sovereignty over the entire national territory.
Brothers and sisters,
It is indeed unfortunate that we currently lack courageous national leadership. We feel the absence of the heroes of September and October in this critical moment; we miss their bravery, love, and unwavering dedication to Yemen. However, this should not lead us to despair. Our belief in ourselves, our history, our national heritage, and our capacity to transform our painful reality is what we must hold onto today. I am fully confident that our people can turn the tide; they have done so in the past and will rise again at the right moment. No force is stronger than the will of the people; all who believed themselves invincible have fallen dramatically, their prestige shattered, scattering like chaff in the wind.
The tyrants in Yemen and those who threaten its sovereignty, unity, and republic will undoubtedly meet a similar fate. The war will come to an end, and the thieves who currently control the country will find no time to escape.
Long live Yemen, a democratic and independent republic! Long live its people, free and dignified, standing resolutely against any form of guardianship.