The Story of Maher Hassan

The Following piece is written by a Yemeni-based journalist who writes for Foreign Policy Association (FPA) and, due to serious security concerns, remains anonymous.

Maher Hassan is not the only victim of the Saleh regime, but his tragedy and the message it carries, is rippling throughout the entire nation like a sandstorm. If Tunisia had Mohamed Boua’zizi to incarnate everything that was wrong about its government, Yemen has found its new emblem in that of this young man, father, husband and son.

The Tragedy

As Maher was leaving the headquarters of the two months long protest against Ali Abdullah Saleh, where he had relentlessly showed his support for the pro-democracy movement; he found himself suddenly on fire.

This brave young man was smothered in gas by the regime mercenaries and set alight in such a manner that he did not realize anything was wrong before it was too late.

The Threats

For weeks now Maher was under the continuous threats of the Saleh regime for being such a “visible” opponent. He had been photographed and video taped on many occasions while wearing a hat that read “The people want the trail of the assassin”.

As it happens, Maher’s landlord, Saleh Al-Esra is a close acquaintance of Abduallah Al-Bashiri, himself the General Secretary of the President. You can only imagine that having such an “outspoken” tenant did not sit too well…… Because the beatings and intimidations did not deter this young activist, Mr. Al-Esra decided to take matters in his own hands.

He warned Maher that if he did not stop asking for the resignation of the President he would have his family kidnapped and killed.  And so he did…. For two days, Al-Esra held Maher’s wife, son and mother hostages in the basement of one of his buildings. Upon their release, he warned them that next time he would bury them alive.

The family was unable to return to their apartment as it had been ransacked and all their possessions stolen.

Maher is now being treated for his burns at one of the capital hospital. Thanks to the prompt reactions of his fellow-protesters, Maher’s life was spared. However, this young man would have to spend the remaining of his life bearing the deep scars of the Saleh regime in his own flesh.

The bravery that those men and women is mastering everyday by coming to the Square of Change is truly a lesson in humility. Unarmed and unprepared they are all willing to lay down their lives for their beliefs. All tribes and social classes confounded, an entire nation is rising against tyranny. That in itself should prove to the rest of the World that indeed Yemen is a United Nation