HAMTRAMCK — Intimidation, segregation, disrespect, aggressive searches and theft — these are some of the abuses Yemenis are facing at Amman’s airport, according to activists calling for boycotting the Royal Jordanian Airline.

After the conflict in Yemen started last year, Jordan started requiring a visa for Yemeni nationals, even if they are landing in Amman for transit. The airport authorities place Yemeni passengers in special rooms or hallways as they await their connecting flight; they can’t leave these cramped designated areas for hours— and sometimes days, community advocates say.

Yemeni Americans are not spared the humiliation. But for local Yemenis, the only viable route to their homeland is through Jordan.

Representatives of local Yemeni American organizations formed a committee to address the issues and lobby on behalf of Yemeni passengers. The group met in Hamtramck on Wednesday and renewed calls for boycotting Jordan.

Abdulhakem Alsadah, a veteran activist, said after imposing the Visa requirements, the Jordanian government did not set defined guidelines for the new regulations, which opened the door for
corruption and abuse.

“There are no clear instructions as to how to deal with Yemeni passengers,” Alsadah said. “It depends on who is on the shift at the airport. This is unacceptable.”

Alsadah said it is bewildering that Yemenis are barred from roaming around at the airport while they are in transit.

“There is confusion that is allowing this hysteria,” he said. “When you create a chaotic situation, anything becomes possible.”

Hamtramck Councilman Saad Almasmari said rampant theft of Yemeni passengers has been happening at the Amman airport for years; and now it’s worse.

According to Almasmari, airport employees who search the luggage of Yemeni Americans regularly steal valuable gifts travelers are bringing to their families.

“Yemeni passengers are being robbed,” Almasmari said. “They see a Yemeni is coming from America, they’ll steal a phone, a computer, a camera, anything expensive they can take.”

He added that sometimes entire bags disappear and that the current atmosphere of discrimination creates a ripe environment for impunity and corruption.

“Systematic discrimination”

Walid Fidama, an advocate for the Yemeni community, described the mistreatment of Yemenis by fellow Arabs as shameful.

“Women, elderly and children are made to wait for hours in cramped rooms,” he said. “They can’t even use the bathroom without getting permission. Even food is not available.”

Fidama said abusing Yemenis at the airport is a political decision aimed at putting pressure on the people of Yemen in the context of the war.

Jordan is an ally of Saudi Arabia, which is leading a bombing campaign against Houthi militants, an Iranian-backed faction that took over most of Yemen before the bombardment started in March of last year.

“People have been overlooking the theft for years,” Fidama said. “But now the situation is unbearable. As Yemeni American organizations, we are setting strategies to make our voices heard.”

According to Alsadah, the Jordanian authorities are cracking down on Yemeni passengers suspected of supporting the Houthis.

“The discrimination is systematic,” he said.

Fidama, Alsadah and other community leaders at the Hamtramck meeting said the call for a boycott is non-negotiable until the situation is resolved.

“It is true that Jordan is the only way to Yemen now, but if you don’t absolutely have to go to Yemen, delay your travels until we find a solution,” Fidama said.

He added that dying without seeing Yemen again is better than being insulted and disrespected at the airport.

At the meeting, the attendees agreed to contact different airlines to find an alternative route to Yemen.

They are planning on gathering documented stories of abuse to legally ask for compensation. The committee also wants to hold meetings with State Department officials to ensure the safety of American passengers at the airport in Amman.

Diplomatic issues

Yemenis across the world are taking to social media to voice their frustration with the Jordanian authorities. The online campaigns angered the Yemeni embassy in Jordan, which put out a statement condemning verbal attacks against the Jordanian government.

“These inappropriate statements do not reflect the friendship between Yemen and Jordan at the official and popular levels,” the statement read. “Jordan remains the preferred destination to Yemenis for education, medical treatment and tourism.”

Ali Baleed Almaklani, the executive director of the Yemen American Benevolent Association, said despite the hardships that Yemenis are facing in Amman, he does not condone blaming all Jordanians.

“The problem is with the policies of the Jordanian government and the officers at the airports,” he said.

Almaklani added that all Yemenis are suffering at the Jordanian airport.

“When you see a long line of Yemenis restricted to a hallway, while people of all other nationalities are able to walk around the airport, that raises questions,” Almaklani said. “We have no choice as organizations and activists except to amplify the voices of the people who are complaining. We are calling for boycott reluctantly, with pain.”