- Houthi militia intensifies campaign against mosques and Friday sermons in Ibb Governorate.
- Local preacher Sheikh Hamdan Al-Hamdani barred from Aqeel Mosque, replaced by militia loyalist.
- Militia supervisor Abu Ali Al-Radaei enforces preacher replacements across Al-Makhadir District.
- Community members protest by arriving late to Friday prayers, rejecting imposed sermons.
Houthi Militia Intensifies Attacks on Mosques in Ibb Governorate
The Houthi militia has intensified its systematic campaign against mosques and Friday sermons in Ibb Governorate. Their objective is to dominate religious discourse by replacing original preachers with those who align with their agenda. This strategy is aimed at imposing a religious narrative that supports their sectarian and political objectives.
Houthi Interference in Religious Sermons
Local sources indicate that the Houthi militia has recently barred Sheikh Hamdan Al-Hamdani from delivering sermons at the Aqeel Mosque located in the Shanin area of Al-Makhadir District. Following weeks of harassment, the militia appointed a preacher loyal to their ideology to take his place permanently. Such actions facilitate the dissemination of sermons that reinforce the militia’s beliefs and agenda.
Widespread Campaign to Replace Independent Preachers
Reports confirm that Abu Ali Al-Radaei, the militia’s supervisor in the district, is orchestrating these violations. He has enforced the appointment of militia-affiliated preachers in several mosques throughout Al-Makhadir as part of a broader campaign targeting religious institutions across the governorate. The militia employs repressive tactics, including arrests and the replacement of independent preachers, to tighten its grip on religious discourse.
The local community’s response reflects growing frustration with these practices. Many residents have expressed their discontent by arriving late to Friday prayers, choosing to attend only at the sermon’s conclusion as a form of protest. This behavior underscores their rejection of the forcibly imposed sermons and highlights the community’s dissatisfaction with these ongoing violations.
These actions represent a systematic policy by the Houthi militia in Ibb, targeting mosques and preachers. The transformation of Friday sermons into tools for propaganda serves their sectarian agenda while blatantly disregarding freedom of expression. There is an urgent need to address these violations to safeguard the national and religious identity of the community.
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