Houthi militia attacks a car showroom in Al Bayda for the owner’s failure to display its sectarian slogans.

In a brazen act of aggression, Houthi militias targeted a car dealership in the Al Bayda province, citing the owner’s delay in displaying their sectarian slogans as the reason. This incident highlights the ongoing turmoil and the militia’s tightening grip on the civilian population under their control.

Militia Leader’s Assault on Civilian Property

Eyewitnesses reported that a Houthi leader, known as Abu Hashem al-Riyami, who the militia has appointed as the security director for the “Dhi Na’im” district, led the attack on Fahd Al-Aswadi’s car dealership. Al-Riyami and his forces vandalized the dealership’s gate, fired upon the vehicles, and exploded their tires. They also threatened the employees with death and severe penalties if they failed to comply with the militia’s demands to raise the sectarian banners.

Exploitation Under the Guise of Religious Celebration

The Houthi militias exploit the Prophet’s birthday, a religious occasion, to extort large sums of money from the citizens, imposing hefty levies on them amidst the dire economic conditions prevailing in their territories. The residents, already struggling with interrupted salaries and exorbitant price hikes, face increased hardship due to these practices, all carried out under the pretext of celebrating the “Mawlid al-Nabi al-Sharif” (the Prophet’s birthday).

This recent attack on a civilian business underscores the militias’ continued use of sectarian propaganda and economic exploitation to maintain control over the regions under their sway, exacerbating the suffering of the Yemeni people amidst an already challenging situation.

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