Taiz – The city of Taiz witnessed a shocking crime this morning as Aftahan Al-Mashhari, Director of the Cleaning and Improvement Fund in the governorate, was assassinated after being targeted by unknown gunmen in the Sanan Roundabout area, north of Taiz city, leading to her immediate death.

The incident has sparked outrage among social and human rights circles. Yemeni human rights activist Shaima Mohammed described the killing as “a heinous crime that does not only target the life of a woman, but strikes at the very values of justice, the right to life, and security, while exposing the grave risks faced by women working in public leadership positions.”

This assassination comes amid a state of security vacuum and chaos prevailing in Taiz Governorate. Most areas are under the control of armed militias affiliated with Yemen’s Islah Party (the Muslim Brotherhood), despite the presence of military camps belonging to the Yemeni Army, whose leadership, according to observers, largely pledges allegiance to the Islamist party.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the assassination, while the Yemeni public awaits an official response from authorities regarding this crime, which threatens the integrity of public service and exacerbates the suffering of citizens in the governorate.