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Nine foreigners kidnapped in Yemen
Nine foreigners, including three children, have been kidnapped in northern Yemen, the BBC reported.
The foreigners were having a picnic when they were taken on Friday by the Huthi Zaidi, a Shia rebel group. The victims include a British and a Korean citizen. The rest of the group, including the children, are German. The adults were working in a local hospital as part of an international aid effort.
Kidnapping of foreigners is common in Yemen, with more than 200 abductions in the past 15 years. Kidnappings of Yemenis is even more common but rarely makes it into the international media. The kidnappings are generally the work of bandits demanding ransom or local tribesmen seeking political gain. This act by an armed rebel group may herald a new phase in a growing problem.
The Zaidi are a Shia sect and make up 30% of the mostly Sunni country. The two groups have a long tradition of mutual tolerance in Yemen, but in recent years that has soured with the rise of a faction within the Zaidi community that wants to overthrow the government. The present government itself overthrew a Zaidi government in 1962. An article in Middle East Online goes into the politics of this civil war in more depth and also reports on the kidnapping.
Yemen is an incredible travel destination with historic architecture (like the impressive towers shown here), ancient ruins, and a traditional society not yet overrun with tourism. Numerous terrorist attacks and unrest in the provinces, however, have led the U.S. State Department to issue a warning to all U.S. citizens to avoid the country unless absolutely necessary. Many other countries have their own warnings against travel in Yemen, and this latest incident will only exacerbate the problem.
Have you been to Yemen? Please share your experiences in the comments section.
Filed under: Yemen, News, Middle East
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Richard Jun 14th 2009 2:30PM
And maybe the reason it is not overrun with tourists is that the tourists keep getting kidnapped.
Sean McLachlan Jun 14th 2009 2:41PM
Well, yeah, but before the current unrest it was an excellent place to visit, and people still go there (although I wouldn't suggest doing so). A friend of mine went in the Eighties and took a jeep all around the countryside. He had no trouble other than some car trouble in the middle of nowhere. I need to get him to upload his photos!
Syl Jun 15th 2009 3:54AM
I took the photo used above during a month long trip through Hadhramaut last Dec/Jan. I travelled alone w/ a driver/guide. I never felt unsafe while there, despite Israel launching its Gaza offensive midway though the trip (and the fact that I'm a white American - I blend like the ugly duckling). Two things I think worked to my great advantage. First, I was traveling alone. It's much easier to go unnoticed when you're not traveling in a convoy of vehicles packed w/ folks that don't readily fit in their surrounds, or in the above case, stationary for a period of time. Word will spread about such a group, and that can bring unwanted attention. Second, I had a great driver. He was local, and knew where and what would be reasonable for us to venture. I would be introduced to people he knew would be open to meeting w/ a westerner, and my use of my 6th grader-esque Arabic (learned informally) allowed decent conversations over tea. He had been referred to me by a Yemeni friend, and I can't thank either of them enough for their assistance. I would not discourage anyone from going at this time, but would suggest that those interested consider what their profile will be, and how best to manage it. The precautions are no different than anywhere else one may travel. Perhaps start-out w/ a more westernized gulf state first?
fred bear Jun 15th 2009 3:54AM
Yeah, Yemen is a great place to visit/live, and Yemenis are wonderful and hospitable people.
Sean McLachlan Jun 15th 2009 4:03AM
Syl, great photo! Could you tell us about it?
As for countries to go to as an introduction to the Middle East, my vote is for Syria. The country is small enough that you can see a lot of it in a short time. In a month I saw most of what I wanted to see. The infrastructure is reasonably good, the people are lots of fun, and the sites are simply amazing. Syria gets a fair amount of tourism, especially from the French, but it isn't swarming like Morocco or Egypt.
Good tips on staying safe while traveling in Yemen. While the kidnappings and violence in there are frightening, it's important to remember that the "more than 200" figure comes over a span of fifteen years. I wonder how many tourists got mugged in New York in the last fifteen years?
Nick Virr Jun 15th 2009 6:30AM
I have just returned from a short business trip to Sana'a and although I was wary of the possibility of terror attacks and kidnapping I never at any point felt threatened.
The capital of Yemen and the people were both incredible and I was made to feel extremely welcome. I would have no hesitation in returning, and indeed will need to soon, however I would listen very carefully to the locals and heed their warnings about what roads and areas are safe to travel in. If you ask for and listen to local knowledge you can avoid areas of heightend danger and visit a country that is like no other.
I have travelled extensively and found Yemen and the Yemenis all and more than I anticipated. A truly unique and incredible destination, but be sensible and listen to local advice.
nzm Jun 15th 2009 3:45PM
Looks as if something went horribly wrong this time, 7 of the hostages have been found dead:
http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090615/FOREIGN/906159992/1002
Usually, the hostages in Yemen are released after money or favours are paid to the kidnappers.
Very sad as Yemen is a beautiful place which we would love to visit one day.
A good blogger friend has a wonderful blog on Yemen:
http://hadhramouts.blogspot.com/