Yemenis Return to Streets to Protest Houthi Violations

Arab World

July 27th, 7:10am

Sanaa - Asharq Al-Awsat

A photo taken from social media shows Yemenis protesting in the Habish district.

New waves of protests against the Houthis have erupted in regions held by the Iran-backed militias in Yemen in recent days. The demonstrators took to the streets to protest against the Houthi corruption and arbitrary practices against the people, demanding their overthrow. Yemeni sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Houthis are continuing their oppression and extortion of the people, leading them to return to staging protests that have erupted in the capital Sanaa, and cities of Ibb, Dhamar, Hodeidah and others. In Sanaa, teachers staged a protest to pressure the Houthis ahead of the new academic year to pay their salaries that have been withheld for years. A local source told Asharq Al-Awsat that dozens of teachers protested the unfair conditions, calling other colleagues to join a general strike to protest Houthi injustice. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source revealed that the Houthis resorted to their usual oppression to quell the protests that took place at three public schools in the Maeen district in Sanaa. The militias arrested several teachers, confiscated their phones and accused them of incitement. They were released 12 hours after being detained. They were threatened with being fired from their jobs and being rearrested should they again resort to protests and “impede education,” warned a Houthi member. Days ago, people in the Ibb province took to the streets to demand the sacking of a leading Houthi member for his crimes against the locals. Local sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that hundreds of residents of the Habish district protested against the Houthi official, who serves as the so-called director of security of the area. The militias attempted to quell the protests by opening live fire at the demonstrators. Witnesses said the rally was prompted by a Houthi armed assault on a vegetable vendor at a local market and the imposing of new fees on the people. Yemeni sources had previously revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that anti-Houthi protests had erupted in four cities in July. They were held in Sanaa, Ibb, al-Bayda and Taiz to protest Houthi oppression and practices.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3782076/yemenis-return-streets-protest-houthi-violations