A Houthi tax collector assaulted an elderly qat vendor in Ibb, raising concerns over local safety and governance.

Houthi Tax Collector Assaults Elderly Khat Seller in Ibb

An elderly khat seller faced assault from a tax collector affiliated with the Houthi militia at a checkpoint in the Al-Makhader district, located in northern Ibb Governorate. This incident occurred after the seller refused to pay additional fees imposed by the collector.

Details of the Assault

Local sources report that the Houthi tax collector, known as “Al-Jaradi,” stopped the seller in the Al-Samara area. He physically attacked the seller while threatening him with a knife, despite the seller’s insistence that he had already paid the tax at the main checkpoint after purchasing khat from the Al-Daleel market.

At the time of the assault, the seller was en route to sell khat in the Al-Dhamadi village within the Al-Sadda district. Witnesses expressed outrage at the incident, highlighting the growing concern over such violent encounters.

History of Houthi Assaults

This incident follows a recent attack in which a Houthi tax collector killed khat seller Wazir Qasim Abdul-Rab Al-Qasimi and injured a motorcycle driver in the Al-Mudhaykhir district, also in Ibb. That attack stemmed from the sellers’ refusal to pay additional fees, underscoring the escalating violence perpetrated by Houthi tax collectors against vendors.

Ongoing Struggles for Sellers

Over the past few years, assaults by Houthi tax collectors on khat sellers in Ibb have become increasingly common. These attacks, coupled with the excessive fees imposed by the militia, have resulted in significant financial losses for the sellers, exacerbating their economic hardships. Citizens have voiced growing complaints about these practices, calling for urgent intervention from authorities to protect the rights and safety of vendors.

For more information, visit Yemen TV.

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