A Woman Turns the Tables on Corruption… Only to Fall Victim to Bullets
NYN | Reports and Analyses
The city of Taiz witnessed a horrifying assassination this Thursday morning, as unknown gunmen shot and killed Ms. Iftihan Al-Mashhari, Director of the Cleanliness and Improvement Fund. The incident took place at Sinan Roundabout, in the northern part of the city, and resulted in her immediate death.
Details of the Crime and Identity of the Suspect
A previous official document issued by Taiz Governor Nabil Shamsan revealed the identity of the primary suspect in the crime: Ahmed Sadiq Ahmed. The document confirmed that urgent orders were issued to the security forces to arrest him and refer him to the public prosecution.
Local sources indicated that the suspect had previously stormed the Fund’s headquarters and threatened the employees prior to committing the crime.
Later, the provincial security campaign identified Mohammed Sadiq Al-Makhlafi, known by the nickname “Al-Bashiq”, as the prime suspect in the case. He had previously assaulted Al-Mashhari in August and forcefully closed the Fund’s office.
Background and Reputation of the Victim
Al-Mashhari came from a well-known business family in Taiz and was a prominent administrative figure at Taiz University. She held several administrative positions before being appointed as Director of the Cleanliness and Improvement Fund. She was known for her dedication and integrity.
Just days before her assassination, she had traveled to Aden to meet with the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, in an effort to secure funding for a waste recycling project in Taiz.
Journalists confirmed that she met with Al-Alimi discreetly, without public announcement, due to fears for her safety. Activists described her as the “Fragrance of Taiz” and a symbol of its cleanliness, calling her assassination “a crime unprecedented in Yemen.”
Public Outrage and Reactions
The assassination triggered widespread anger in Taiz, with activists accusing political factions—including the Islah Party—of being behind the crime. They claimed Al-Mashhari was targeted for her honesty and her fight against corruption.
One activist stated: “Because she was honest and disrupted their theft, they killed her… Yemen ended with the assassination of a woman.”
Strikes and Street Protests
In direct response, workers at the Cleanliness and Improvement Fund announced a total strike, suspending all operations until the perpetrators are captured and brought to justice.
Angry employees launched protests and blocked Jamal Street, one of the city’s main thoroughfares. As a form of protest, they dumped garbage in key streets around the city.
Meanwhile, women-led protests were held outside the Security Administration headquarters, demanding justice for the slain official.
Taiz in Shock
Activists described the assassination of Al-Mashhari as a “stain on the city’s conscience and its elites”, while others said her blood would remain a lasting testament to the authorities’ failure to protect honest public servants.
Taiz, a city long plagued by security chaos and power-hungry factions, now faces an unprecedented tragedy: the assassination of a woman in broad daylight — sparking renewed calls for the rule of law to be restored and the killers held accountable.
