Houthis revive Shiite festivals to strengthen grip on north
Since the Houthi seizure of Sanaa in 2014, the group has brought new sectarian pressure to Yemen's north, forcing both Shiites and Sunnis to observe Shiite customs.
Five years ago, Ahmed Fuad had no idea about Eid Al-Ghadir, a religious festival celebrated by Shiite Muslims in some countries. Now Fuad is fully aware of this occasion and enthusiastically celebrates it. On July 28, he joined thousands of people in Sanaa who gathered in squares across the Houthi-controlled provinces. Fuad joined a gathering at the Sanaa University square to mark the occasion, feeling he was performing a holy religious duty.
The Iran-allied Houthi leadership designated 34 squares where people were told to gather to celebrate Eid Al-Ghadir.
The story of Eid Al-Ghadir, set in the time of the Prophet Muhammed, remains one of the most contentious issues in Islam.
Yemenis stopped celebrating Eid Al-Ghadir after the breakout of the 1962 revolution that toppled the Imamate rule. The revolution gave birth to a republican state, ending dynastic rule. However, since the Houthi seizure of Sanaa in 2014, Yemen's north has returned to the old confessional practices. The six-year war has not only dismantled the state but also created a climate of sectarianism.
