... manipulation, a dangerous phenomenon rights activists both within and without have been keen to denounce and warn against.
Unlike other Arab countries in the immediate region where, except for Bahrain, the Shia community happens to be a minority, Yemen Shia Muslims account for an estimated 45% of the population, hardly a group which anyone could discard as unimportant or attempt to dismiss. But while Yemen Shia represent the country’ second largest religious group, targeted attacks against the ...
... Houthis’ very stance against radicalism and sectarianism which has provoked Salafis’ ire. Organized for the most part under the political umbrella of Al Islah, Yemen’s very own Sunni radical party, Salafis have since 1994 attempted to lay waste Shia Islam from Yemen highlands as to create a buffer for Saudi Arabia and appease its royals’ irrational fear of Shiite Muslims.
As the Houthis exponentially gained in strength and prominence, often challenging Al Islah in areas it thought it had under its complete ...
... agreed that Yemenis stood to lose too much by waging never-ending wars against one another on account of politics, Sheikh Abdel Malek Al Houthi warned that this guarantee of truce would remain null and void should factions chose to raise a hand against Yemen Shia community. And indeed, after months of latent tensions and brewing hatred, Salafis militants in Dammaj – located in the northern province of Sa’ada – came to clash with the Houthis. Alleging that the Salafis had been busy building ...
