Yemen Timeline

By: Julia Gilboy & Maya King 2nd hour Key:

● Government/ Politics/ Military= I am Nujood Red ● Arts & Humanities= Blue ● Noteworthy citizens= Purple ● Span of book events= Green

(1964-2015) 1964--Shada Nasser

Shada Nasser was born on May 1, 1964 and is the first female Yemeni lawyer and the first female lawyer to not cover her face in Yemen courts. This bold woman was Nujood's Lawyer who helped her reach justice and divorce her abusive husband. In 1996, she founded an all female law firm with three other female Yemeni lawyers in the capital of Sana'a. She has dedicated her work to protecting the rights of women in Yemen. Nujood had loved her and felt very comfortable around her. Shada had told her, “Nujood, you're like a daughter to me. I won't abandon you” (85). This quote shows her compassion and decimation to her job. If it weren't for Shada, Nujood would not have gotten a divorce and been the first to rebel against illegal marriage. 1967--People's Republic

The formation of People's Republic of Yemen, comprising Aden and former Protectorate of South Arabia took place in 1967. The Marxists changed into the People's democratic republic of Yemen. Because of this, thousands of people flees to the north. This affected and shaped Nujood’s life and her story. Her life wouldn't be the same without these historical events. 1967--Yemen's civil war

Yemen was engaged in the civil war in the year 1966. By November 28, 1967 the Yemeni people had finally gained their independence from Great Britain. The British troops withdrew, they gave up or just left the fight, so it wasn't that difficult of a win for the Yemeni people and military. The outcome of Great Britain withdrawing was that they ended 128 years of Britain ruling Yemen. By the time Nujood was born this war had been finished. In the book, I am Nujood, Delphine, Nujood’s ghost writer, explains a little about the history of Yemen and says, “Still later, the British, with their white skin, put into port in the south, in Aden, while the Turks set up shop in the north”(Page 9). So this being stated, the British were having conflict in Yemen that Nujood had knowledge about during her story. 1990--Capital of Yemen, Sana’a

Sana'a is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. At an elevation of 7,500 feet, it is also one of the highest capital cities in the world. Sana'a has a population of approximately 1,937,500 people as of 2012, making it Yemen's largest city. Nujood makes a journey to the capital in the hopes of finding a judge to help her get a divorce. As she makes her way into the courthouse she realizes that this could ultimately change her life that had just crashed down on her. This capital city is a place that marks her first step in her journey. 1990--President, Ali Abdullah Saleh was elected

Saleh served as the President of North Yemen from 1978 until unification with South Yemen in 1990. He then became the head of the country as a whole. In school Nujood was taught to call the president of their country, “Uncle Ali”. Saleh term ended in 2012 when he left office to get medical treatment in New York, United States. At the courthouse he was treated with lots of honor. As Nujood wandered in this place she was very unfamiliar she said, “I recognize, in a place of honor on a wall, a framed photograph of Amm Ali, “Uncle Ali”(19). Everyone in Yemen looks up to this great leader, especially Nujood because she is the only leader she has had for the whole time has lived. 1992--Laws about marriage

In Yemen a law had been made that the minimum marriage age is 15 for males and females. Laws also about marriage guardianship; the judge can overrule guardian if his objection to marriage of ward is considered unjust, with proviso that the wife receive her proper dower from husband of equal status. A dowry is a property or money brought by a bride to her husband on their marriage. Nujood was given a dowry of 750 dollars and the promise that the her husband wouldn't touch her until she was older. Nujood, at this time had only been 10 and therefore this marriage was breaking the law. Marriage before age 15 was very common although is was illegal. 1998--Nujood Ali, herself

Nujood Ali was born in 1998 and has become a central figure in Yemen's movement against forced marriage and child marriage. At the age of 9, she was told that she was getting married. At the age of ten, she obtained a divorce, breaking with the tribal tradition. In 2010, Ali's family was living in a new two-story residence bought with the help of her French publisher and running a grocery store on the ground floor of the building. At this time, Ali and her younger sister were attending private school full-time. Nujood is the main character of her book, I am Nujood, and is now one of Yemen’s most courageous women. One of her famous quotes from the book was when she said, “Since forever, I have learned to say yes to everything. Today I have decided to say no”(back cover). This quote is bold and shares how she was not going to take being treated unjustly. 1999--Village of Khardji

Nujood is one of the 16 children born just outside the remote village of Khardji to her father’s first wife. One day in 1999, Nujood's family had to leave Khardji for Sana’a, the capital. Nujood grew up in the city of Sana’a until she was married to a man from Khardji and was forced to move there to live with him. Nujood hated this place not only because it was far from her home and family but because there was no cell service or easy transportation to and from this place. Nujood thought of running away from this place many times and had said, “Khardji, my native village, had become my prison” (95). 2000s--Al Qaeda attacks

On December 29, 1992, the first attack by Al-Qaeda happened in Aden, Yemen. This attack is known as the 1992 Yemen Hotel Bombings. That evening, a bomb went off at the Gold Mohur hotel, where U.S. troops had been staying while en route to Somalia. Even though the troops had already left when the bomb exploded, this was still a large terror attack. Al Qaeda attacks have been happening sporadically ever since. They are happening in the world today, our presidents are still working hard to see what they can do to prevent it. This must have affected Nujood seeing that her story was happening throughout all these attacks. Terrorists from where sh lived attacked the US, and she came her to share her story with us, but most likely got judged before they even knew her 2004--Terrorists

In 2002 there was a bombing of the Limburger tanker. No one was sentenced for this act. In August of 2004 the court sentences 15 men on terror charges. This is relative because terrorism is a big situation in present day. This relates to the book because this happened in 2004, before and after 2004 and Nujood's was alive for all of it. These terror attacks can really affect someone so it would've affected Nujood's story and overall life.

, 2008--Harbi al-Himyari (scholar, teacher)

Arab scholar from Yemen, Harbi al-Himyari who lived between the 7th and 8th century AD was a mentor for teaching Koran and mathematics. This man had lead teachings that are still used in today's schooling requirements. Nujood had loved learning and going to school. She was heart broken when forced to leave school seeing her best friend, Malak everyday. February(2008)--Azaan

In the book Nujood says, “There it's every man for himself, they all want to be the first to snag a job for the day at dawn, just after the first Azaan, the traditional summons to prayer called out five times a day by the muezzins from the of their ” (Page 14). Azaan is the call of prayer in the Muslim religion, this is an event that happens very often in the book in her town and her life, but also in real life for a Muslim. February(2008)--Marriage

In the prologue of the book, they talk about Nujood’s life, what is was like and how this marriage was brought upon her. Delphine says, “One cold February evening in 2008, however, that appealing and mischievous grin suddenly melted into bitter tears when her father told her that she was going to wed a man three times her age” (Page 10-11). In their culture, government and religion it is normal for girls to get married at a very young age. In the book and in life today the Muslims still have different normalities than what most of us are used to. These events of young girls marrying older guys happen in the book and in life but not as much in present day anymore. March(2008)--Islam Religion

Islam in Yemen dates back to about 630 when it was introduced into the region by Muhammad Ali when he was alive. It was during this period that the mosques in Janad (near Ta'izz) and the Great of Sana'a were built. Yemenis are divided into two principal Islamic religious groups: 50-55% Sunni and 42-47% Shia. In the book Nujood shares her concerns about not knowing the difference between the groups and why they are called different people if they are under the same religion. She said, “All I know is that I am Muslim and recite my five daily prayers” (65). As a children religion can be such a complex thing to wrap your mind around and reasons for why you do certain things but Nujood just took what she was told to do and did it. April(2008)--Hussein Moheb

Hussein Moheb is a Yemeni musician, an impressive loud player and singer. The beats on his albums are known to be infectious and many of the songs feature syncopated percussion, and creative style of vocal parts. On the ride to Nujood’s new home, in the car she was serenaded with this cd played on replay. She focused hard on the music playing as she prayed they would arrive to the village in one piece. The driver shouted, “Listen to the music, it will make you forget your fear!” (72). This local singer sounded familiar to her and she just wanted this whole thing to end now. April-(2008)--Bab al-Yemen

Bab al Yemen also know was the, “Gate of the Yemen," is the main gate of Sana's old fortified wall. The southern extremity of the walled city, its current design built in the 17th century by the Turks. As one enters the gate, you can help but quickly notice the creative Yemeni architecture of high towering houses made of baked bricks decorated and waterproofed with lime and qadad, one of the outstanding features of Sana's Old City. This unique place is one Nujood had visited on her journey to her new home of her husband. She did not think of this place as as dandy as what you read before. She explained this place as: “Anyone who enters Bab al-Yemen is immediately surrounded by all sorts of sounds: merchants’ cries mingle with the popping and hissing of old cassette tapes and laments of barefoot beggars.” (66) She already did not want to be there and was exhausted from the long trip she had just taken. April(2008)--Cultural traditions, niqab

The Niqab is a cloth that covers the face except the eyes. It is worn by some Muslim women in public areas and in front of non-mahram men, especially in the Hanbali Muslim faith tradition. Nujood mother had said to her, “From this day on, you must cover yourself when going out into the street.” In Yemen it is traditional for married women to wear the niqab to show that they are taken. In 2008 when Nujood had gotten married, she then had to accept that she was not a little girl anymore. June(2008)--Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan)

In the Islamic religion, Ramadan is the holy month of fasting. This religious event happens every year and this year in particular stood out to Nujood as her hope was running out. “Oh, God, have pity on me!” (20). She would pray the five times a day she was supposed to asking for god's guidance. She had just recently been told that her father had arranged for her to get married to man three times her age and she has never met. Eid al-Fitr has a particular Salat (Islamic prayer) consisting of two Rakats (units) and generally offered in an open field or large hall. On his holiday they celebrate the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting. So this day they are not permitted to fast. Nujood hopes that by following her religion and making it her number one priority god will reward her and help her to get out of this marriage. 2010--I am Nujood was Published

The book, I am Nujood is a story written about a young girl named Nujood Ali. She was only nine years old when her parents arranged a marriage to Faez Ali Thamer, a man in his thirties. She had been regularly beaten by her in-laws and raped by her husband although she had escaped on April 2, 2008, two months after the wedding. On the advice of her father's second wife, she went directly to court to seek a divorce. After waiting for half a day, she was noticed by a judge, who took it upon himself to give her temporary refuge, and had both her father and husband taken into custody. This summarizes the book that she had written with her partner, Delphine Minoui. This book was Nujood's first book she had written and was published in 2010. 2011-- Politics and military failure

A political transition was suppose to bring stability to Yemen, there was conflicts that started because of this failure, this caused the longtime authoritarian president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, to hand over power to Mr Hadi, his deputy in November of 2011, then in 2012 was elected president officially. Mr Hadi struggled to deal with a variety of problems, including attacks by al-Qaeda, a separatist movement in the south, the continuing loyalty of many military officers Former president to Mr Saleh, as well as corruption, unemployment and , Ali Abdullah Saleh food insecurity. Today Nujood is still living in Yemen and under this government. 2012--Yemen's Government, The Leader

How Yemen is governed is under the constitution of 1991 as amended. The president, who is head of state, is elected by popular vote for a seven-year term. The government is headed by the prime minister, who is appointed by the president. Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi Is the leader of the state, the president. 64.78% of the popular vote voted from him to be president. He was elected president in 2012. The elections in 2009 were postponed until 2012. Nujood and her sister live in Yemen still and this is their new leader that they look up to. In the book, I am Nujood, Delphine is talking about the current president during the time of Nujood’s story and says, “ Yemen’s head of state is a president whose photo often decorates the displays windows of shops, but power in this country lies also with tribal chiefs in turbans who wield enormous authority in the villages, whether it's a question of arms sales, marriage or the commerce and culture of that kind” (Page 10). This being said there was a president during the time of Nujood’s story but also tribal chiefs for leaders. Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi 2015--Political crisis

Since March 2015, over 6,800 people have been killed and 35,000 have been injured. The majority of these injuries and deaths were from airstrikes by a Saudi-led multinational coalition that backs the president. In January 2015, the Houthis were trying to make clear their takeover of . They surrounded the presidential palace and other key points. This then effectively placed Mr. Hadi and his cabinet ministers under house arrest. The president escaped the Southern Port of the city the next month. In the book, I am Nujood, Nujood is talking about Yemen and says, “Once upon a time there was a magical land with legends as astonishing as its houses, which are adorned with such delicate tracery that they look like gingerbread cottages trimmed with icing” (page 7). Back in the day Yemen was seen as a magical land and it inspired dreams, today it is getting bombed and its people are getting hurt and killed. Yemen is also one of the poorest counties in the world today. 2015--Random attacks on Yemen

In the book, I am Nujood, Delphine Minoui talks about the history in Yemen. Delphine says, “It has been years and years now since the invaders packed up their bags and left, but ever since their departure Yemen has experienced a series of civil wars too complicated for the pages of children's books” (9). These little civil war attacks have been happening, also these random attacks by ship or helicopter are killing and injuring many people in Yemen. Recently, a helicopter gunship attacked the boat near Yemen, leaving at least 42 Somali refugees dead. A sailor on board said about 80 more refugees were rescued. It is unclear who was behind this attack. These attacks on Yemen are still happening but now, we don't even know who the attacker is. Work Cited:

● "Ali Abdullah Saleh." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 15

Mar. 2017.

● Ali, Nujood, and Delphine Minoui. I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced. N.p.:

Paw Prints, 2011. Print. ● Corcoran, International Editor Mark. "Yemen: A Century of Conflict." ABC

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● Mohammed Irfanulla Khan, Student at St.joseph Degree and P.g College

Follow. "ISLAM : THE RELIGION OF PEACE BY IRFAN." LinkedIn

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● "Nujood Ali - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia." Alchetron.com. N.p., 18

Jan. 2014. Web. 19 Mar. 2017. Work Cited...continued:

● Ratnikas, Algis. "Timeline Yemen." Online Directory of Historical Timelines. N.p., 05 Apr. 96. Web. 19 Mar. 2017.

● "Sana'a." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2017. ● "Shada Nasser." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2017. ● The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Sanaa." Encyclopædia

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● Weatherwax, Esmerelda. "A Review of." New English Review. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2017. Work Cited...continued again:

● Nujood Ali, Delphine Minoui, Linda Coverdale (Translator ). "I Am

Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced." Goodreads. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar.

2017.

● "Nujood Ali." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2017. ● "Old Yemeni Bedouin Tribal Jewelry with Prayer Box Amulets." Tribal

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● "Photographs from Yemen: What’s at Stake." Beirutmabitmoot. N.p., 13

May 2015. Web. 18 Mar. 2017. Work Cited...lastly

● "Yemen-ChildBrides-Hockstein0022.JPG." Evelyn Hockstein. N.p., n.d. Web. 19

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● "Yemen Crisis: Who Is Fighting Whom?" BBC News. BBC, 14 Oct. 2016. Web. 19 Mar. 2017.

● "Yemen Profile - Timeline." BBC News. BBC, 01 Mar. 2017. Web. 19 Mar. 2017.