Bani Shaybah – As-Shamayatayn | July 2025
In a moment marked by both tears and relief, a five-year-old murder case that captured public attention in As-Shamayatayn District, Taiz, has officially come to a close. The final step came during a community dialogue session held as part of the Restorative Justice Initiative. The victim’s family, belonging to the marginalized Muhamasheen community, agreed to drop the case and accept financial compensation (blood money). Both parties signed a reconciliation agreement, officially ending the case and opening a new path toward community healing based on dignity, acknowledgment, and justice.
The session was part of the “Supporting Peace in Yemen through Accountability, Reconciliation, and Knowledge Exchange (SPARK)” project, led by the Abductees’ Mothers Association in partnership with SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties, and supported by the DT Institute. The resolution followed two months of intensive mediation and dialogue.
*From Tragedy to Resolution: Restorative Justice in Action*
Following the official settlement and payment of compensation, a funeral and burial ceremony was held for the victim in a solemn and respectful atmosphere. Community figures from both sides, along with local officials, including District Director Eng. Abdulaziz al-Shaibani, and tribal and security representatives, were present.
A formal condolence gathering took place in Bani Shaybah, with a focus on expressing solidarity with the victim’s family.
*Ongoing Support: Legal and Psychological Help for the Victim’s Family*
As part of the initiative’s continued support, organizers announced a session for 20 members of the victim’s family to provide psychological and legal assistance. The goal is to help the family recover emotionally and understand their civil and legal rights moving forward.
The session, scheduled for tomorrow, will include a psychosocial specialist and a legal advisor, overseen by the project team. According to the initiative’s coordinator, this is part of a broader vision of restorative justice that “goes beyond signed agreements to include legal and emotional empowerment.”
*A Model for Other Yemeni areas*
This case offers a successful example of restorative justice tailored to local realities and inclusive of marginalized voices often excluded from formal justice systems.
Organizers say the experience in Bani Shaybah could be replicated in other Yemeni areas facing conflict or long-standing revenge disputes.
*About the Initiative*
The Restorative Justice Initiative was launched in Al-Shamayatayn in June 2025 as part of the SPARK project. Its goal is to promote reconciliation through dialogue, acknowledgment, and community healing. Activities include public dialogue sessions, psychological support, and legal empowerment, especially for marginalized groups who are often sidelined in traditional justice systems.
