Iran Street vanishes from Yemen's Capital

Iran and Yemen have taken their spat to the streets, literally. A street in Sana’a was recently altered to “Nada al-Sultan Street,” named for the slain Iranian protestor, after Iran named a capital city road “Hussein al-Houthi Street,” referring to the leader of Yemen’s al-Houthi rebellion.

Nada al-Sultan, 27, was shot to death outside of a protest rallying against President Ahmedinajad’s re-election last June. Her final moments were captured on video and aired on the internet with the intent to spark outrage and international speculation on the legitimacy of Iran’s presidential elections. To add insult to injury, the newly painted “Nada al-Sultan St.” sign still shows remnants of its former name, “Iran Boulevard.”

This battle for street cred is nothing new for Iran. The country touts thoroughfares named, “The martyrs of Sa’adah Street,” “The Martyr Khaled Islambouli” (after the army officer who assassinated Egypt's president Anwar Sadat in 1981 for making peace with Israel), and changed the former Winston Churchill Avenue Street, located near the British Embassy, to Bobby Sands Avenue, after the IRA hunger-striker who died in the Maze prison.

Storeowners and Yemeni citizens have mixed opinions. After the change, it might confuse direction giving and taxi drivers. “I noticed the change, and honestly, I am not comfortable with the new name. This will mostly just negatively affect taxi drivers,” said Mansor al-Haj, a 25 year old resident near Nada al-Sultan St. Still, others were happily surprised when noticing the change. “I saw the sign just this morning and I am very happy. I believe this is the first street that was named after a woman,” said Akram Abdullah, 27, on Thursday. “I am happy about it, especially after we heard of Iran’s involvement in the support of the rebels in Sa'adah. For the taxi drivers, with time they will get used to the new name,” said Mohammed Saleh, a 19-year-old taxi driver.

The person responsible for switching the street signs has yet to be found. Sana’a officials have stated that they did not place the signs there, and will take them down immediately. “We do not want anything about Iran here. Not Iran St. or Nada al-Sultan St. The sign will be taken down,” said Muhammad al-Surmi, First Deputy of Sana’a’s Mayor. Iran’s relations with Yemen have soured since there was speculation of their assistance to the government’s 5-year war with al-Houthi rebels. The Iranian Hospital in Sana’a was closed down in October of this year and the Iranian Embassy in Yemen was surrounded with protestors on Nov. 25th, cursing Iran’s aid for al-Houthi rebels.
 

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