On a sorrowful day where tears mingle with grief, Taiz has lost one of its most noble daughters, Ms. Aftahan Al-Mashhari, who was taken by treacherous bullets while on her way to work, carrying the burdens and hopes of her city.
Ms. Al-Mashhari was a model of a woman who combined dedication with courage, working silently in the service of her city’s cleanliness and dignity until her name became synonymous with giving. Today, a treacherous hand tried to silence her voice and extinguish her light, but she left a wound in the heart of every free human being.
Ms. Aftahan was not merely an administrative official, but a true success story in a city exhausted by crises. Through the Cleaning Fund she reorganized vital public services, provided a leading example of honest and capable female leadership within state institutions, and remained a symbol of patience and hard work under harsh and complex circumstances — becoming a role model for integrity and competence.
Together for Her Network considers this heinous crime a fresh testimony to the collapse of the security system, the loss of state authority, and the spread of gangs and criminals who violate innocent lives without fear of law or deterrent.
We affirm that Taiz will not regain its spirit except by restoring justice and dignity, pursuing the perpetrators and exposing those behind them, until the city becomes once again a safe place for its people and not an open arena of bloodshed.
We extend our deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to the family of the martyr, her colleagues, and everyone who knew and loved her. We ask God to grant her mercy, accept her among the righteous martyrs, and bestow patience and solace upon her relatives.
Truly, we belong to God and to Him we shall return.
Issued by:
Together for Her Network
Hadhramout – 18 September
