A Yemeni woman's initiative to expose a young man, who sexually harassed her friend online, by posting screenshots of his inappropriate messages, ignited a strong reaction on social media, especially after receiving several threats of rape by the young man and his supporters.
حتى لو حاولتوا اسكات صوت الحق ، في ألف صوت حق بيساند و بيوقف مع المظلوم
هبة شجاعة ناصرت الحق رغم محاولات القمع و الترهيب
#هبة_نحن_معك pic.twitter.com/cUTCBtS15A — Alvin 🌱 . (@Transexualalvin) April 11, 2020
Translation: "Even if they try to silence the rightful voices, there are a thousand other ones that will support and defend the victims. Hiba is courageous and has stood by what is right despite all attempts to smear and scare her."
After Twitter user Heba Alalimi, reported receiving threats of rape, for helping her friend post screenshots of explicit messages from an online harasser, mixed reactions flooded social media platforms in Yemen, with some "condemning her attempt to damage the young man's reputation", while many praised her for her courage and expressed their support to her.
فعلاً احنا جداً فخورين بوجود #النسويات اليمنيات على تويتر ونشاطهنّ الدؤوب، وصوتهنّ الحقّ يعلو على الفكر العائق الذكري اليمني الي أهم أشد تخلفاً وقبحاً
ووقفوكنّ مع الأخت هبة قمة في التكاتف ضد أردى ما وجدته الطبيعة من مخلفاتها البشرية
كلُ الودّ لكُنَّ 🌹🌹 — مفكر يمني (@Yemenimovker) April 11, 2020
Translation: "I'm really proud of this feminist Yemeni presence and great activism on Twitter. Their voice shall be louder than the horrible sexist Yemeni thinking. Your support for Heba is a great example of solidarity against the worst thing humanity has brought."
شكراً لكل شخص أنثى او ذكر ساعدني شجعني وجعل من أقوى شكراً لكم أنتم أسرتي الثانية ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️✊.#هبة_نحن_معك — HebaAlalimi|هبةالعلّيمي. (@heba_alalimi_8) April 12, 2020
Translation: Thanks to every female and male who helped and supported me; making me stronger. You're my second family"
Other Yemeni women launched a hashtag to gather Heba's supporters and to show solidarity for women who speak up against online bullies, utilizing the famous #MeToo slogan.
Twitter users urged more women to expose men who send indecent online messages in an effort to stop this act.
كل متحرش سيتم فضحه والتشهير به طالما مافي قانون يعاقبه وينصف الضحية والمجتمع إما يسكت أو يبرر له — إلهام #العدالة_لإصباح (@ElhamAlmua) April 11, 2020
Translation: "Every harasser will be exposed online, as long as there are no laws to punish this and serve justice, and as long as we are in a society that tends to pardon the prepetrators."
contrarian69 on April 12nd, 2020 at 15:31 UTC »
A lot of them will be killed over this.
ThatSpookyChick on April 12nd, 2020 at 13:27 UTC »
She's exposing him for threatening rape and people are accusing HER of trying to "ruin the young man's reputation. " I can't even wrap my head around that. Good luck ladies, I wish I was there to help.
chickaboomba on April 12nd, 2020 at 12:24 UTC »
It took a lot of courage for the women who accused Weinstein to come forward. Imagine the courage it takes to come forward in a country where there is much more to lose than one’s career and reputation.