Al-Muhamashīn
The al-Akhdam or Akhdam (singular Khadem, meaning "servant" in Arabic; also called Al-Muhamasheen, "the marginalized ones") are a social group in Yemen distinct from the majority by their more African features. As a low caste group, they are discriminated against and mostly confined to menial jobs. According to official estimates, they numbered around 500.000 in 2004, while other estimates put their number as high as more than 1 million in 2007 (out of a total Yemeni population of 22 million).
They are popularly believed to be the descendants of Ethiopian soldiers of the Aksumite Empire that occupied modern-day Yemen more than 1500 years ago and who remained after the occupation ended. While slavery in Yemen was abolished after the 1962 revolution and hereditary social classes slowly dissolved, the Akhdam continue to be stigmatized and affected by discrimination. Most Akhdam live in slums at the outskirts of the major cities, 100.000 of them live in San‘a’, others are in Aden, Ta'izz, Lahij, Abyan, Al Hudaydah and Al Mukalla. Their living conditions are generally worse than those of the majority.
Many NGO's and charitable organizations from other countries such as CARE International are working towards their emancipation, while the Yemenese government denies that there is any discrimination against the Khadem.[1]
References
External links
- IRIN 2005, 'YEMEN: Akhdam people suffer history of discrimination', IRIN News, 1 November.
- IRIN 2009, 'YEMEN: Girls, poor and black children most discriminated against - study', IRIN News, 15 March. Retrieved on 16 March 2009.
- Worth, R.F. 2008, 'In slums without hope, Yemen's untouchables', International Herald Tribune, 27 February. Retrieved on 29 April 2008.