Luay Yahya Al-Iryani
Ambassador of Yemen to Germany
For Yemenis, September 26 is more than just a date etched in national memory; it is a founding moment that carried the country from the closed rule of the Imamate to a republican project that opened horizons for freedom and citizenship. For six decades, September has remained present as a political, moral, and national reference—especially in light of the current struggle to restore the state and the republic after the Houthi coup, which in 2014 attempted to reproduce the Imamate in a new form.
Yemenis differ in how they interpret September: some see it as the month of revolution, others as a symbol of the republic, while many associate it with the struggle for dignity against a regime that denied people their most basic rights. Yet what unites all these interpretations is that September remains a moment of collective liberation—a transition from a system that concentrated power in a dynasty claiming a “divine right” to a broader horizon built on the sovereignty of the people and the principle of equal citizenship.
Today, amid war and division, Yemenis revive the meaning of September as a unifying national space. The more the new Imamate attempts to impose its reality, the more Yemenis find in September a refuge that reaffirms that the republic is not merely a political choice but an existential necessity. In this sense, September becomes a “symbolic homeland” that embraces Yemenis inside and outside the country, providing them with moral and spiritual support in the face of a project that seeks to erase their shared identity.
In the diaspora, the symbolism of September is even more apparent. Yemenis living far from their homeland find in commemorating this anniversary a means to connect with their country and to express their belonging despite the distance. In Germany, for example, the Yemeni Embassy in Berlin, in cooperation with members of the community, ensures that the anniversary of September is marked annually by lighting the torch and singing the national anthem. These scenes are far more than passing celebrations; they embody the fact that September remains the deepest bond among Yemenis, holding the power to transmit this connection to new generations who know Yemen only through the stories and hopes of their families.
This spirit is not new. Yemeni migrants played important roles in the September 26 Revolution itself, serving as a source of support for the national movement through money, positions, and political backing. Today, Yemenis abroad are renewing this role through political, media, and social engagement that confronts the new Imamate project. In this way, September becomes a bridge linking different generations—from those who participated in the revolution to those who continue to defend its principles from various places around the world.
Relying on September 26, then, is not merely nostalgia for the past, but a reading of the essence of the present conflict. The Imamate, old and new, rests on denying the sovereignty of the people, while the republic means equality before the law, participation in decision-making, and the building of civil institutions. Between these two options, Yemenis stand today in an existential battle, finding in September their historical and political reference to continue the struggle.
The meaning of September cannot be separated from the tragic reality Yemen is experiencing. The battle against the Houthi coup is not merely a military confrontation, but a struggle over the meaning of the state and the identity of society. In this context, September serves as a clear compass: a civil state for all its citizens, with no place for dynastic privilege or claims of divine right. From this awareness, Yemenis draw their certainty that victory over the Imamate project is not an option, but a historical imperative—completing what began in 1962.
September 26, then, is not merely an anniversary, but an unwritten collective social contract among Yemenis, rejecting the return of the Imamate past and affirming the republic as the only path to building a state capable of embracing all its citizens. From this awareness, commemorating September becomes a national duty that goes beyond symbolic celebration to political and social action—action that restores Yemenis’ confidence in themselves and in their ability to reclaim their republic.
And while the Houthi coup poses a threat to the fate of the entire country, September 26 remains the historical and moral foundation that confirms Yemenis’ ability to protect their republic, just as they did in 1962. With every commemoration of this anniversary, the promise is renewed that the struggle that began six decades ago endures—and that Yemeni victory in it is inevitable, in loyalty to September, to Yemen, and to future generations.
