Abdulmalik Abdulrahman Al-Iryani
Writer, Former Minister of Tourism of Yemen, and Former Ambassador of Yemen to the Kingdom of the Netherlands
On September 26, 1962, a new dawn broke over Yemen. From the heart of Sana’a, the Republic was proclaimed, heralding the end of centuries of Imamate rule. The event was not merely a political upheaval, but the birth of a new national identity—one that defined Yemenis as citizens rather than subjects under autocratic rule, and a project of statehood that placed justice, freedom, and equality at the core of its goals.
Today, as we mark the 63rd anniversary of the revolution, the events of September 26 are not merely a page in history, but a foundational contract that continues to be tested daily amid wars, conflicts, divisions, and mounting regional and international pressures.
The most significant outcome of the September Revolution was the transformation of Yemenis from “subjects” into “citizens.” For the first time, Yemenis became partners in a state, owners of rights in their homeland, no longer mere followers of an Imam. As poignantly stated by the martyr Mohammed Mahmoud Al-Zubairi:
“I know that the Imamate has created divisions among the sons of one people, and I listen with dread to names you have given yourselves that God never sanctioned. Let us put an end to these distinctions.”
Similarly, the martyr Mohammed Ahmed Al-Nu’man eloquently expressed this truth when he said:
“The Hashemite and the Qahtani, the Zaydi and the Shafi’i, the Tihami and the Jabalī, the rural and the tribal—all of these are Yemenis first and foremost. Before Adnan and Qahtan existed, the land of Yemen existed. And before Zayd and al-Shafi’i existed, the people of Yemen already lived on this land.”
One of the most important achievements of the September Revolution was opening the doors to building a state with institutions: a national army, schools and universities, and a civil administration that gradually transcended tribal, regional, sectarian, and dynastic loyalties. Despite the setbacks and conflicts that followed, it became deeply ingrained in public consciousness that political legitimacy must stem from the people’s choice, not from lineage, and that even limited transfers of power were gains to be safeguarded. As the late President Judge Abdulrahman Al-Iryani declared:
“The republican system is the true Islamic system, full humanity, progress and development. It does not grant divine right to any individual, family, or group to monopolize power.”
Thus, the outlines of a national identity were drawn—one that transcended narrow loyalties and established a unifying civic political bond. This was not achieved through slogans alone, but through the transition from “revolutionary legitimacy” to “constitutional legitimacy.” This transition was realized with the adoption of the Permanent Constitution (al-Dustur al-Da’im) in 1970, followed by the election of the Shura Council in 1971, the first elected legislative body in Yemen’s history. These steps represented a pivotal shift from the slogan of the Republic to its institutional reality.
In announcing the Permanent Constitution, Judge Al-Iryani proclaimed:
“With this constitutional document, we align ourselves with all nations that believe in human rights and freedom, that seek truth, justice, and peace. We lay down the foundations upon which the pillars of democratic life in our country shall be built, spreading freedom among individuals and communities alike. For all of this: to safeguard the essential legal conditions for the rise of a people’s democracy in Yemen, based on equality in rights and duties without distinction or discrimination; to realize the principle of separation of powers as the surest guarantee against the return of autocratic rule; and to shield future generations from enduring tyranny and humiliation under any form of dictatorship—we hereby proclaim the Permanent Constitution of the Yemen Arab Republic.”
When unification was achieved between North and South Yemen on May 22, 1990, Yemenis felt it was the ultimate culmination of the spirit of both the September and October Revolutions. Unity was not simply a political merger, but a major step in consolidating the Yemeni entity and affirming a collective identity that transcended partition and past divisions.
For the first time in history, Yemenis crafted a unified Constitution that reflected this identity through principles of political pluralism, free elections, and freedom of the press. This Constitution underscored that the Republic is not merely a political system, but a national identity and an overarching framework regulating the rights and duties of citizens and their relationship with authority through a constitutional contract and an institutional state.
During the period of political openness following unification, Yemenis experienced forms of pluralism, elections, and party life. Some achievements were realized while many others faltered. Yet despite these challenges, republicanism, democracy, and pluralism remained embedded in the national consciousness, even when subjected to severe shocks.
If the September Revolution was a founding contract and a point of departure, it was never the end. The tasks before us today are clear:
1. Restore the civil character of the state: There can be no democracy without neutral institutions governed by law, not narrow loyalties.
2. Fortify the Republic socially: Education, justice, and public services are not mere slogans but essential tools for protecting national identity and enabling economic and social development.
3. Politics instead of arms: The republican identity rests on democratic representation and peaceful competition, not on violence and divisions.
4. Reject and dismantle all forms of sectarianism and discrimination: Citizenship can only be preserved under the rule of law; there is no place for dynastic, regional, or sectarian privilege in a Republic of equal citizens.
The September 26 Revolution was not a passing political event but the birth of a new national identity founded on republicanism. It entrenched the values of citizenship and opened horizons of freedom and democracy. The experience of unity further proved that Yemenis—regardless of their diverse paths and orientations—can forge a common history that resists division.
Today, as we commemorate the 63rd anniversary of the glorious September Revolution, holding fast to its principles and spirit remains a national duty and a trust for future generations. The Republic is not a slogan but a daily practice built through justice, education, and equality, and safeguarded by national unity and popular will. It is only through this spirit that Yemen can hope to overcome its crises and renew its path toward a future worthy of the sacrifices of its pioneers and the aspirations of its people.
