5 May 2011

Who cut the tongue of a Yemeni poet?

The gruesome incident, which was reported by Al Arabiya TV on Wednesday, has triggered an exchange of accusations between the opposition and the government of embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
It is not known whether Mr. Al-Rumaishi, who hails from Shi’an district of the southwest province of Ibb known for being the poets’ hub, is for or against the government.

waleed al-rumaishi

But the hideous action against him recalls the 24-year reign of Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq, when dissidents had their foreheads tattooed, and fingers and tongues cut off.
On Tuesday, Ibb witnessed demonstrations led by thousands of its citizens denouncing violence against protesters in the country on Tuesday.
The demonstrators who took to the streets made it known that they rejected the deal brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council that called for Mr. Saleh to leave office within a month. The deal also promised him immunity from prosecution. Despite the immunity offer, Mr. Saleh rejected the proposal.

Al Arabiya