Islam in Yemen

By Emma Biedrzycki

About 99% of the citizens in Yemen are Muslims, who belong to the Zaydi order of (Shi'a Islam) or Shafi'i order of (Sunni Islam). The religion was first introduced by Ali Ibn Abu Talib - the cousin and son in law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Talib was the first male convert to Islam and during his rule the two great mosques of Janad and San'a were built. Typically Sunnis are mostly in South Yemen and Shia's are in North Yemen, however the number of people practicing each is equal. There is also a small population of Christians, Jews, and Hindus. The Islam religion and legislation is based upon Sharia law which derived from the Quran and the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Sharia literally means "path" and this system guides many factors in Muslim Life including daily routines, familial/religious dealings and financial dealings. Also the Islamic scholars developed a variety of schools for Islamic thought. These schools are located throughout the middle east and southeast asia where the distinction in education lies within the different legal systems of each nation.  

Problems with the Sharia Law are found within the interpretations which reinforce unequal treatment to women in inheritance, dress, and independence. Along with the justification to initiate cruel punishments to civilians. Within the law there are categories of offenses, the top five Hudud crimes are: unlawful sexual intercourse, false accusation of unlawful sexual intercourse, drinking, theft, and highway robbery. If someone is accused of these crimes the offenses include: stoning, flogging, amputation, exile or execution. Though these punishments are sometimes not practiced as much vigilante justice still takes place after a Hudud crime such as honor killings. Honor killings are murders committed for bringing dishonor on the family, these killings are a worldwide problem. There remains to be much controversy over Sharia law especially with practices involving female mutilation, adolescent marriages, polygamy, and gender-biased inheritance rules. Overall Yemen's religious divide is a source of conflict for the nation because it limits unity and gender reconciliation.  

See Toni Johnson  and Lauren Virens, Islam: Governing Under Sharia.