A rights report documents 4896 Houthi violations against mosques and places of worship in 14 governorates.
- The Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms documented 4,896 Houthi violations against places of worship.
- religious leaders were killed, and 1,832 individuals from Sunni sects were arrested.
- Houthi militias transformed 423 mosques into military barracks and 219 into indoctrination centers.
- violations against the Baha'i minority included arrests, torture, and property theft.
### Documented Violations by Houthi Militias
The Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms has recorded approximately 4,896 incidents of violations committed by Houthi militias, supported by the Iranian regime. These violations affected mosques and places of worship across 14 provinces from January 1, 2015, to August 30, 2026.
The report, titled “Brutal Violations Against Religious Minorities,” confirms that the violations included killings, injuries, bombings, looting, abductions, enforced disappearances, and torture. Additionally, the report highlights the closure of mosques, the imposition of pro-militia preachers and imams, and the conversion of places of worship into centers for ideological and sectarian indoctrination.
### Victims Among Imams and Religious Leaders
The network documented 277 killings of preachers, imams, and Sunni religious leaders, alongside 178 injuries. Since September 2014, the militias have arrested over 1,832 individuals from Sunni sects. Currently, 386 imams and preachers remain forcibly disappeared, with 73 cases of torture reported, including 9 instances of torture leading to death.
### Widespread Targeting of Mosques and Places of Worship
The report recorded 791 violations against mosques, which included:
– 103 bombings and explosions
– 201 instances of shelling
– 52 cases of arson
– 341 incidents of storming, looting, and vandalism
Furthermore, the militias have transformed:
– 423 mosques into military barracks
– 219 mosques into ideological indoctrination centers
– 61 mosques into operation rooms and weapon storage facilities
The report also noted 394 cases of mosque closures, 1,291 instances of imposed preachers and imams, and 467 closures of Quran memorization schools.
### Violations Against Religious Minorities
The report documented 139 violations against the Baha’i minority, which included arrests, enforced disappearances, torture, displacement, and property theft. Among these, 71 Baha’is were arrested, including 6 children and 20 women. The report also noted 25 unfair trials, the displacement of 6 individuals and 25 families, and the looting of 12 homes and affiliated institutions.
Additionally, the report recorded the arrest of 9 individuals from the Jewish minority, the closure of two schools, the displacement of 63 people, and the looting of their properties.
### Dammaj: One of the Largest Sectarian Crimes
The report indicated that Houthi violations against Salafis in Dammaj reached 1,184 incidents, which included:
– 200 killings
– 600 injuries
– Damage to 361 civilian sites, including 6 mosques, 346 homes, 3 hospitals, and 6 water wells
The blockade also resulted in 113 children suffering from severe dehydration and malnutrition, along with 67 children developing pneumonia.
### Calls to End Sectarian Discrimination
The network warned of the rising sectarian rhetoric and sectarian mobilization in areas controlled by the militias. It urged respect for freedom of religion and belief, an end to religious persecution, the evacuation of mosques converted into military headquarters, and their rehabilitation. The report also called for the protection of the rights of religious minorities in any future political settlement in Yemen.
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