The Houthis and Series of Oppressions against Religious Freedoms

After many years of ado over the violations of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia, and its attempt to impose its religious beliefs and prevent its doctrinal opponents from practicing their beliefs, the holy month of Ramadan was different this year, as it witnessed an unprecedented escalation in attacks against the terrorist group's beliefs.

The situation was clearer in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, which is controlled by the Houthi militias, where many videos documented the storming of Houthi militants into mosques in Sanaa, to prevent Muslims from performing "Taraweeh prayers", which is a desirable worship in the Sunni doctrine, and is not in Shiite sects adopted by the Houthis.

This difference regarding Taraweeh, like many beliefs, can be practiced by any group or group in a way that does not harm others, a principle that is guaranteed by the rules and principles of religious freedom and the necessary foundations for coexistence between different sects and beliefs.

In fact, the vast majority of Yemenis in Houthi-controlled areas do not comply with the group's sectarian rules, including the racist beliefs that claim Islam came to give some privileges on an ethnic basis.

However, the Houthis’ attempts to forcibly prevent Sunni Muslims from performing of Taraweeh prayer is not necessarily a position against the prayer itself, but rather its performing gives a picture that the community in Houthi-controlled areas does not accept their racist ideas, which contradict not only with the beliefs of the vast majority of Yemeni people, but also with international humanitarian foundations and laws related to equality and other rights.

During Ramadan, Yemenis witnessed a horrific scene that had never happened in any country, as Houthi gunmen stormed mosques and turned them into places for chewing khat leaves, which is a violation that was not practiced even by non-Muslims in many cases.

On the other hand, the documented violations in Yemen represent a small part of the actual violations practiced by the Houthis there.

It is a serious issue that requires all local authorities, as well as international organizations and bodies to intervene and defend the human rights and freedoms of those people.

Meanwhile, turning a blind eye to these documented violations is tantamount to a complicity that threatens peace and coexistence, and warns of the expansion of the Houthi terrorist attack approach against their violators of all groups.