A frank interview in the Yemen Times investigates tribal norms in Yemen and the role of ‘Sheikhs’ as tribal leaders who influence a country’s judicial, political, and security climate. This comes on the heels of two major headlines from Yemen that have raised some international concern. The first is the rumour that Yemen has freed a top Qaeda operative who was convicted for the USS Cole bombing in the Gulf of Aden. The second about a failed nuclear deal with a US firm that came to a stop under a corruption investigation.

In Yemen’s rural areas, where 75 percent of Yemen’s 21 million population live, tribal sheikhs hold sway more than the government. They follow their own rules to solve citizens’ problems, although a constitution and law govern the nation. Sheikh Mohsen Bin Mohsen Al-Neni, 31, is the tribal leader of Bani Siham, one of seven tribes in the region of Khawlan. With 20 villages, Bani Siham has the largest population of Khawlan tribes.

Al-Neni shares his insight on a variety of interesting topics that showcase the intricate relationship that exists in balance between the law of country and the law of tribe. One little nugget of info that may throw readers into a loop is in regards to violence towards women. Apparently, men receive a much harsher punishment for beating or hurting a woman than they would if they attacked another man. On the other hand, men receive a lesser punishment for killing a woman instead of the normal verdict they would receive if they had killed a man. Go figure!

In Yemen, the constitution and all laws on varying issues are derived from the Qur’an, but some tribal norms are an exception; for example, those concerning murder and inheritance. If a man kills a woman, he won’t be executed, although this contradicts both the law and morals of Islam.

“Nothing is perfect in this world,” Al-Neni admits, “You’ll find errors everywhere and we confess that these two rules are real defects in tribal norms. However, I try to do my best in order not to be sinful before Allah when I issue a ruling.”

For example, he explains, “When I judge a murder case, I know that according to tribal norms, I can’t order the killing of a man for a woman, so I negotiate with the woman’s relatives to see if they’ll accept blood money. If they accept, then I issue the verdict; if not, I send the two parties to court.”

On the other hand, according to tribal norms, punishment for aggression against a woman is many times that of the punishment for the same aggression against a man.

Photo by: Michael Robert Powell - www.thecandytrail.com

“According to our norms, it’s a huge shame to attack or hurt a woman, for which the punishment for certain aggressions against women may be four, 11 or even 44 times that for such acts against a man. A man may be attacked or hurt, but it isn’t as shameful as it is against a woman,” the sheikh explains.

However, he adds, “Despite this, I admit that some tribal norms stand against some women’s rights, such as those regarding inheritance.” Many rural residents deprive their female relatives of their rightful inheritance. Often if they do agree to give them their fortunes, they oblige the women to take money instead of land or other assets.