Sometimes Burkas Stand for Freedom

For the second day in a row, thousands of Yemeni women marched in Sanaa and most of Yemen’s provinces in condemnation of remarks made by President Ali Abdullah Saleh, which, they said, are an affront to their honor.

Saleh had noted in a speech Friday that women should not mingle with men, except family members, and that instead of marching they should go home and stay there.

The Yemeni women retaliated by taking to the streets in what they called the "Day of Honor and Dignity".

"Look Saleh, at the power of women," said Raiofa Nasser, a female activist who marched in Sanaa on Sunday. "Many women were avoiding the protests, but since Saleh's verbal attack on women, we will not go home and will continue protesting until he is forced to leave the presidency."

"Even conservative women will join the protests now, to prove to anyone who doubts it that women will take part in Yemen's future rule," said Salma Sabra, a human rights activist. "Women have always been strong in Yemen, and we will not accept being degraded by our ruler."

Conservative women were certainly to be seen in the thousands, marching. Their burkas stood out as a sea of black, with protest signs and raised hands demanding that Saleh resign.

Burkas may signify extremism in Europe, but in Yemen they represent women’s demand for equality and democratic government.