Info Minister warns of a Houthi plot to bring tens of thousands of Iranians under the guise of religious tourism.

Sana’a, Yemen – Yemen’s Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Muammar al-Eryani, has issued a stark warning about a scheme by the Iran-backed Houthi militia to bring tens of thousands of individuals from Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Iraq into areas under its control. This influx, purportedly for visiting religious shrines and tombs, is part of what the Houthis call the “Tourist Landmarks and Historical Sites Related to Faith Identity and Guidance Flags Project.”

Houthi Misuse of Cultural and Historical Sites

Al-Eryani, in a press statement, detailed how, since their coup, the Houthi militia has been eroding Yemen’s tourism landmarks by violating the sanctity of cultural properties and archaeological sites. They have repurposed these for military operations, weapon storage, and even excavated archaeological sites to finance their military endeavors. The plan includes demolishing 500 historic buildings in Old Sana’a, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including the significant craft market, Suq al-Milh, to make way for a religious shrine and hosting sectarian events unrelated to Yemeni traditions. This gradual shift towards a theocratic state is part of their broader strategy.

A Veiled Iranian Influence

Al-Eryani highlighted the grave implications of opening “religious tourism,” which is not merely a plan to boost tourism but a cunning method to strengthen Iranian influence in Houthi-controlled areas. This move facilitates the entry of Iranian experts and Hezbollah fighters into Yemen, further deepening Iranian dominance and posing a severe threat to Yemen’s political, social, intellectual landscape, and demographic composition.

Political and Social Ramifications

From a political perspective, this step aims to ignite sectarian conflict in Yemen and impose the Houthi coup with direct sectarian support from Iran under the guise of religious tourism. This threatens Yemen and the region’s security and stability, deepening the Yemeni crisis and undermining peace efforts.

Socially and intellectually, the plan promotes extremist ideologies imported from Iran, which are alien to Yemen’s moderate identity. It’s part of the Houthis’ attempts to alter the cultural, religious, and demographic fabric of Yemeni society, fostering sectarian divisions that threaten civil peace and the country’s long-standing values of diversity and coexistence.

Call to Action

Al-Eryani urged the Yemeni people to remain vigilant against these malicious schemes and to unite against any attempts to entrench Iranian influence in the country under any guise. He emphasized the importance of preserving Yemen’s national and Arab identity, which the Houthi militia seeks to erode in favor of a Persian identity antagonistic to Yemeni and Arab values, risking the country’s future to Iran’s regional ambitions.

This warning sheds light on the ongoing struggle for Yemen’s cultural and national integrity amidst external influences and internal conflicts, urging the international community to take note.

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