The Houthis and the persecution of Christians in Yemen: A series of repressions against minorities
In a new chapter of restrictions on religious freedoms in Yemen, human rights reports and local sources indicate an escalation in the Houthi group’s campaigns of repression against religious minorities, with Christians becoming the latest target in a series of systematic violations that previously targeted the Jewish community and the Baha’is.
A historical context of systematic oppression
This targeting is not an isolated incident, but rather part of a broader pattern of the group's policies since seizing control of the capital, Sana'a. The past few years have witnessed a near-total eradication of Yemen's historical religious diversity. These practices began with the suffocating persecution of Yemen's Jews, one of the country's oldest social groups, leading to the displacement of the vast majority and the departure of the last remaining families, thus closing a chapter of history spanning thousands of years.
The matter did not stop there, but the hand of repression extended to the Baha’i community, as international organizations documented the arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearance, and unfair trials of dozens of Baha’is that reached the point of issuing death sentences, before a number of their leaders were forcibly exiled from the country, and their properties were confiscated and their institutions were closed.
Christians are in the crosshairs
Today, attention is focused with grave concern on the situation of Christians in Houthi-controlled areas. Although the Christian presence in Yemen is shrouded in secrecy due to social and security risks, reports indicate an increase in security crackdowns on those suspected of converting to Christianity or practicing its rituals. The group views changing religion as “apostasy” deserving of the harshest punishments, and also uses accusations of espionage for the West as a political pretext to justify repression.
Humanitarian repercussions and international concerns
This escalation raises concerns among international human rights organizations, as it constitutes a blatant violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international covenants guaranteeing freedom of belief and the practice of religious rites. This climate of intimidation creates an environment of constant fear, forcing the remaining members of minority groups to live in complete isolation or risk their lives on perilous journeys of displacement and migration.
The continuation of these policies threatens to obliterate the diverse cultural identity of Yemen, and transforms Yemeni society, which has historically been known for coexistence, into a monochromatic society that rejects difference, thus exacerbating the humanitarian and social crisis that the country is experiencing as a result of the ongoing war.
