A growing number of women in Yemen have become the targets of blackmail and defamation through social media, according to a study published by The Arab Reform Initiative website.
The author of the study, Monia Mohammed suggested that the lack of clear legislation to curb this epidemic in a country already in the midst of a civil war has made it difficult to create deterrents or administer punishments commensurate with the seriousness of these crimes against women and their consequences on society as a whole.
Monia found that Yemeni legislators have failed to add amendments and updates to the legal system to deal with the growing number of cases of online harassment, blackmail, and violation of privacy affecting women in Yemen.
Recognizing the gravity of cybercrime, as well as the extent to which women are disproportionately its victims, is crucial to remedying this legislative vacuum, the study concluded adding Based on the bitter experiences of female victims of cyber extortion crimes in Yemen, and in view of the legal shortcomings as well as the lack of social awareness on this issue, some recommendations can be made to fill the gaps in the hope of effecting radical solutions to protect women's lives, rights, and freedoms.