2011 Interview Questions | IOM | Arab Spring
Interview Questions:1. Name M. Taher Hamdani | (Medo Hamdani)
2. Male/Female? Male
3. Occupation? Graduate
4. Class level? Low/Medium/High Medium (This question is somehow mean!)
5. Education level? Bachelor's Degree (University Graduate)
6. What were your family’s experiences during the Yemeni Arab Spring? Did the women in your family also play a role? In what way did religion or religious institutions play a role? Did this activism lead to lasting empowerment? In 2011, I wasn't in Yemen, but my family was there, from the stories that they have told me, they have been through a lot of unexpected events. Most of the Yemeni families thought this revolution of Arab Spring would make things better, but as far as I know, things won't get better unless the people of that particular country have the aim to achieve and a plan to apply, not just going to the party who is going to have the biggest loot.According to my family during the Arab Spring, my mother and my two sisters were just inactive, because at that time there was no security at all and sometimes in order to keep safe, you gotta keep quiet, but sometimes this is the worst thing to do.Religious institutions are the problem and the solution at the same time. Misusing these institutions will make things worse since they manipulate people's beliefs then they can drive people toward almost anything they want. And in order to counter back these religious institutions, a long-term plan must be applied in order to change the mentality of the leaders of these institutions or new concepts must be slowly applied in the education system that allows creation of a new generation that is open-minded to things that are going out around them with keeping all the correct Islamic laws that help in the development of mankind.
7. What are your conditions and experiences during this current war? What are the women in your family experiencing during the current war? How is religion playing a role in the way your family is negotiating wartime? Is wartime creating any opportunities at all for women's collective empowerment or your empowerment? Is wartime making your or your family’s empowerment more difficult? How?
War sucks BIG time. It is really better to have corruption in a country rather than have a war! Religion is an important factor in human life and without it, humans will feel lost and at some point, they will feel pointless in life (Talking here about Yemen, since not most of the infrastructures are there, and there are few entertainment facilities). Therefore, using religion can be the key to making a difference, also it can be the opposite. Regardless of the situation in Yemen, woman empowerment can take place if women started to create a base ground or a public base ground that will help them to take an important role in Yemen. Yes, we do admit the importance of women in society but still, change can't just come in a day or a night. It shall take time in order to women to be in power and people accept that.
8. Do you see any hope for the improvement of the status of your family, women’s rights, or human rights in post-war Yemen, and under what circumstances would this take place? Do you think your activism during the war will lead to any lasting empowerment for you?
Answering this question now while the war is still ongoing is pointless. Things should get better after the war is over. Nevertheless, women's rights, human rights, and even animal rights might get better if they have a visionary leader since most of the Yemeni people follow a leader. (They can't just change themselves till someone tell them to do so). They go with the quote "If the brain(head[Leader]) is straight, the body(People) shall follow "
Interview Questions:
1. Name
M. Taher Hamdani | (Medo Hamdani)
2. Male/Female?
Male
3. Occupation?
Graduate
4. Class level? Low/Medium/High
Medium (This question is somehow mean!)
5. Education level?
Bachelor's Degree (University Graduate)
6. What were your family’s experiences during the Yemeni Arab Spring? Did the women in your family also play a role? In what way did religion or religious institutions play a role? Did this activism lead to lasting empowerment?
In 2011, I wasn't in Yemen, but my family was there, from the stories that they have told me, they have been through a lot of unexpected events. Most of the Yemeni families thought this revolution of Arab Spring would make things better, but as far as I know, things won't get better unless the people of that particular country have the aim to achieve and a plan to apply, not just going to the party who is going to have the biggest loot.
According to my family during the Arab Spring, my mother and my two sisters were just inactive, because at that time there was no security at all and sometimes in order to keep safe, you gotta keep quiet, but sometimes this is the worst thing to do.
Religious institutions are the problem and the solution at the same time. Misusing these institutions will make things worse since they manipulate people's beliefs then they can drive people toward almost anything they want. And in order to counter back these religious institutions, a long-term plan must be applied in order to change the mentality of the leaders of these institutions or new concepts must be slowly applied in the education system that allows creation of a new generation that is open-minded to things that are going out around them with keeping all the correct Islamic laws that help in the development of mankind.
7. What are your conditions and experiences during this current war? What are the women in your family experiencing during the current war? How is religion playing a role in the way your family is negotiating wartime? Is wartime creating any opportunities at all for women's collective empowerment or your empowerment? Is wartime making your or your family’s empowerment more difficult? How?
War sucks BIG time. It is really better to have corruption in a country rather than have a war! Religion is an important factor in human life and without it, humans will feel lost and at some point, they will feel pointless in life (Talking here about Yemen, since not most of the infrastructures are there, and there are few entertainment facilities). Therefore, using religion can be the key to making a difference, also it can be the opposite. Regardless of the situation in Yemen, woman empowerment can take place if women started to create a base ground or a public base ground that will help them to take an important role in Yemen. Yes, we do admit the importance of women in society but still, change can't just come in a day or a night. It shall take time in order to women to be in power and people accept that.
8. Do you see any hope for the improvement of the status of your family, women’s rights, or human rights in post-war Yemen, and under what circumstances would this take place? Do you think your activism during the war will lead to any lasting empowerment for you?
Answering this question now while the war is still ongoing is pointless. Things should get better after the war is over. Nevertheless, women's rights, human rights, and even animal rights might get better if they have a visionary leader since most of the Yemeni people follow a leader. (They can't just change themselves till someone tell them to do so). They go with the quote "If the brain(head[Leader]) is straight, the body(People) shall follow "
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