This post is part of our special coverage Yemen Protests 2011 [1].
Violence by the regime continued against peaceful protesters in Yemen. Saturday's pro-democracy march in Sanaa resulted in 12 killed and several injured. Yesterday (October 16) another march in Sanaa and one in Taiz were attacked resulting in 14 protesters killed. A breakdown of those killed was tweeted by Khaled Hammadi:
@KhaledHammadi [2]: Death toll in #Yemen reaches to 14: six protesters in #Sanaa, 7 soldiers of army support revolution in Sanaa & 1 woman-protester in #Taiz
The news of a woman killed in Taiz was breaking news on Twitter, since she happened to be the first woman killed while marching peacefully for her country's freedom.
@alguneid [3]: #Breaking #Breaking by phone #Taiz #Woman Martyr, now in Wadi Madam. Shot by 12.7 big gun, by Saleh Thugs, while in demo #Yemen #Breaking
@alguneid [4]: #Taiz 1Martyr #Woman , 4Wounded, by Saleh henchmen. Wadi al-Madam, Old Town, #Yemen
@JamjoomCNN [5]: Atiaf Alwazir says, “the fear now is that today’s..sniper attack against one woman who was killed in Taiz–it really is an escalation” #Yemen
@alguneid [6]: Martyr #Woman of #Taiz Azizah Othman Al-Mohageri is the 1st martyr who is activist and shot dead by Saleh henchmen, while in a demo.
@YusraAlA [7]: Graphic video of Azezah Abdo Othman, sniper shot in her head in #Taiz today http://youtu.be/E9vtnjSAJ3w [8] #yemen #yf [WARNING: This graphic video was posted by FreeDomTaiz [9] showing Taiz's first female martyr, Aziza killed by a sniper who shot her in the head]
Although many women have been injured and killed before in shelling and bombardments by Saleh forces on residential areas in Taiz, yet the whole of Yemen was moved and enraged by the news of a woman killed by a sniper while marching. Taiz went out in protest that same afternoon.
@YusraAlA [10]: Escalation march in #Taiz today http://youtu.be/cDbMYqaIJE8 condemning #Saleh's crimes against protesters #yemen #yf
(Video posted by: ahmed201120121994 [11])
@alguneid [12]: Magnificent #Taiz #Women are Now big in Nos. Demo., in Wadi Al-Madam where Martyr Azizah was shot dead by Saleh thugs #Yemen
@alguneid [13]: Sad,angry #Taiz #Women,who lost Martyr Azizah,just returned to freedom Sq., unusually late&under rain.They stood,where she was killed #Yemen
@alguneid [14]:
#AI #HRW #UN #HCHR Do you want a better proof that Saleh henchmen shoot at peaceful protesters? #Taiz #Yemen Video http://bit.ly/nsElPF
This video was posted by BassemTaiz [15] shows a sniper shooting directly at protesters at close range:
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh said upon his return to Yemen from Saudi Arabia, where he was being treated for three months for wounds and burns he sustained in an attack on the presidential palace in June, that he was carrying a dove of peace and an olive branch. Yet since his arrival more than 100 people have been killed.
No body is safe in Yemen, even the women are not spared from Saleh's forces, snipers and thugs who kill peaceful protesters with cold blood. Azizah Othman might be the first woman killed in the revolution, but many fear she might not be the last.
This post is part of our special coverage Yemen Protests 2011 [1].