Yemen: How Many Women Have Been Subject to Sexual Harassment? · Global Voices
Noon Arabia

An article [ar] published in pan-Arab newspaper Al Hayat on May 2, claiming that 90% of Yemeni women have been subject to sexual harassment, has caused a stir online.
While many Twitter users admitted that there was a problem with harassment in Yemen, the percentage quoted in the newspaper divided them.
Marwan Almuraisy wanted the newspaper to apologise:
Almuraisy added in a tweet addressed to Al Hayat deputy editor Jameel Theyabi:
Abeer Al Yosofi wondered:
She said:
Cartoon about harassment by Mohammed Al Ridaei. Image from the Safe Streets campaign Facebook page.
However, other people felt the problem needed to be addressed. Lamis Al Wadeai tweeted:
Muna tweeted:
@ArabsUnite: Cant believe some in Yemen R surprised @ high % of women who experience harassment. Striving4change means acknowledging flaws in our society
Alia Eshaq tried to clarify the meaning of harassment:
Najla Al Hamadi linked to an article in the Yemen Times about an initiative to fight street harassment. She made some suggestions of her own:
A campaign against sexual harassment in Yemen called Safe Streets (Facebook) [ar] was started by activist and blogger Ghaidaa Motahar last year. The campaign made this video to raise awareness and address the issue of harassment:
Mohammed Alnehmi commented:
Al Hayat newspaper did apologise for the high percentage it had quoted, saying it was an exaggerated figure based on a regional study.
Rather than addressing the issue and providing solutions, a lot of time and effort was wasted debating and dismissing the figure, which was extremely high. Whether we like to admit it or not harassment in all its forms – stares, words or actions – is widespread. It is something that many women in Yemen's main cities, just as in other countries in the region, are subject to. The phenomenon needs to be acknowledged and addressed properly, starting by teaching proper family values and incorporating them into the educational system, designing media campaigns to address harassment, and introducing and applying laws. In this way we will be able to enjoy safe streets.