Speaker of Parliament and Hashed Sheikh of Sheikhs Abdullah bin Hussain Al-Ahmer, 74, passed away on Saturday morning, after being admitted to King Faisal Specialized Hospital's intensive care unit when doctors noticed a critical deterioration of his health condition.

A death notice released by his eldest son Sadek sadly announced the death of Sheikh Al-Ahmar to the people of Yemen, following a long-term suffering with cancer, which included recent medical trip in London and in Saudi Arabia. Sheikh Al-Ahmer sons started to receive condolences from the mourners.

According to Al-Ahmer family representative, the burial for the Sheikh will be held today in the Al-Difaa Mosque of the capital. Thousands of citizens are expected to attend the burial, along with high ranking Arab and Yemeni officals.

Likewise, a presidency statement mourned the death of Sheikh Al-Ahmar to the people of Yemen and the Arab and Islamic nations and announced a three-day mourning period, which started on Saturday.

Unfilled space in a critical phase

There is none in Yemen but knows Sheikh Al-Ahmar because he enjoys a high political and tribal status and has been an important player in all critical stages of Yemen's history right from the eruption of 26 September Revolution, the next war between Imamates and republican supporters, the 70-Day Siege of Sana'a and the national reconciliation in 1970.

His relations with decision makers have been dramatically varied. He was in disagreement with former presidents of Yemen including Judge Abdulrahaman Al-Eryani, whom he accepted his resignation, Ibrahim Al-Hamdi and Ahmed Al-Ghashmi. He maintained good relations with President Saleh and joined him in his war against Socialists in 1994. He also participated in formulating the unity state's structure despite his party's hostile attitude towards Socialists. 

Sheikh Al-Ahmar headed the Yemeni parliament following the first elections conducted in 1993 in which all parties participated, and he was one of the most important centers in the political field. He is counted an important decision maker in a country that has witnessed chaos and different political and tribal conflicts.

His influence made it difficult to many decision makers to ignore him including Ibrahim Al-Hamdi whose civil pattern of rule was not admired by Al-Ahmar.

Unlike his relations with other presidents, Al-Ahmar maintained good relations with President Saleh and it seems that he admired his method for handling the political situation in the country, especially when Saleh came at the most critical moment, wherein two presidents killed within two months.

Further, the enmity socialists hold for both Saleh and tribes – represented in Al-Ahmar who is Yemen's Sheikh of Sheikhs – united them together to face their common enemy in 1994 civil war.

On Saturday, Yemen bid farewell to one of the modern Yemeni state pillars. In addition to his tribal position as Yemen's Sheikh of Sheikhs, he is the Parliament Speaker that includes 301 members. He is also the head of the biggest opposing Islamic party in Yemen (Islah Party). Moreover, he has a significant presence in Yemen's political field and among popular forces, together with maintaining good relations with neighboring and Arab countries especially when he is moderate in discussing issues relating to Yemen's relations with neighbors.

According to a specialist in Islamic movements, Al-Ahmar's death left an unfilled space within the Islamic movement in Yemen and none can fill this space. He also stressed he does not know what kind of alternatives the Islamic movement has in dealing with the ruling system, particularly when Al-Ahmar provided a cover for the movement over its different stages.

Political observers assure that the movement has recently relied on alternatives that do not come up to the level of Al-Ahmar, noting the movement's address noticed over the period in which Al-Ahmar is that of conflict.

They further fear the eternal absence of Al-Ahmar could make a division in the power centers and this will affect the country's political and social stability, hinting both the authority and opposition lost an important person who dealt with events in wisdom and flexibility.

Here, summarized points on the important dates for the Sheikh during his lifetime:  

• Born in 1933 in Hashed's Habour Dhulimah. His fathers and forefathers have played important roles in Yemen's contemporary history.

• Spent his early years moving between different areas in Al-Ausimat area to supervise his family's wide property and lands.

• Following the unsuccessful 1948 coup, his father was jailed because he was viewed to be supporter of Free Officers Movement. Later, Imam Ahmed and upon his return from a medical trip abroad ordered killing Hussain Al-Ahmar (father) and Hamid Al-Ahmar (brother). He also destroyed their property in their homeland.

• When Imam Ahmed executed Hamid and Hussain Al-Ahmer, Sheikh Abdullah was in Al-Hodeidah offering congratulations on his return home from Italy.

• Existing in Al-Hodeidah's Al-Sukhnah – the favored place for Imam's stay – was a good chance for Sheikh Al-Ahmar and allowed him to get acquainted with numerous Sheikhs, politicians, intellectuals and thinkers. It opened his eyes to the national issue and the political involvement.

• Upon the eruption of 26 September revolution in 1962, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ahmer was in Hajjah's Al-Mahabishah prison. When hearing the revolution news, Sheikh Al-Ahmer moved up to gain the loyalty of soldiers and locals. Leader Abdullah Al-Salal sent a cable to Al-Mahabishah ruler to set Sheikh Al-Ahmar free to return back to Sana'a.

• Joined Mohammed Mahmoud Al-Zubairi and worked together for reinforcing the republican system and facing the leftist stream.

• He contributed in planning and implementing November 5 Corrective Movement in 1967 which helped save the republican system. He also played an important role to defend the revolution against interior and foreign threats, especially under the 70-Day Siege of Sana'a.

• Following the proclamation of the Republic of Yemen in May 22, 1990 and announcing the multi-party system, Sheikh Al-Ahmar adopted and led the establishment of Yemeni Congregation for Reform (Islah Party) comprising numerous sheikhs, intellectuals, thinkers, businessmen, youth and women. He has been the leader of the party ever since.

• Sheikh Al-Ahmar got the trust of his constituency's people on April 1993 parliamentarian elections. Later, he was chosen as the Speaker of the Parliament, a post he assumed until his death.

• During 1994 civil war, Sheikh Al-Ahmar managed to keep the unity of the legislative authority and contributed markedly in defending the national unity and besieging the secession crises until victory was achieved in July 1994.

Societies and NGOs Sheikh Al-Ahmar headed:

1. The chairman of the Public Committee for Supporting the Kuwaiti People following Sadam’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990.

2. The chairman of the Public Committee for Defending Al-Aqsa Mosque and Palestine.

3.  Head of the Parliamentary Committee for the Quds and Palestine Affairs.

4. Head of the Board of Trustees of the Islamic Call Organization,

5. Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Al-Quds Institution  and Chairman of Al-Quds Institution branch in Yemen.