Report: Houthis Accused of Widespread Abuses Against Religious Leaders in Yemen
The findings, published by the Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms, document over 4,500 violations committed between 2014 and mid-2025.
According to the report, at least 277 religious figures were killed, including imams, Quran teachers, and preachers. Victims were reportedly shot, tortured, or killed in bombings and raids.
The group also documented 386 abductions, many of which were followed by enforced disappearances and torture in secret detention centers.
The Houthis are accused of systematically targeting mosques and religious institutions, with over 100 mosques bombed, 200 shelled, and dozens burned or looted. In many cases, the group allegedly replaced local imams with loyalists and converted mosques into military outposts or indoctrination centers.
One of the most shocking incidents occurred on July 2, when Houthi militants reportedly bombed the home of Sheikh Saleh Hantous, a respected Quran teacher in Raymah province, killing him and critically injuring his wife. The attack was allegedly carried out after he refused to stop teaching Quran to children in his village.
The report also highlights the forced closure of Quranic schools, the imposition of sectarian sermons, and the use of religious platforms to incite violence and suppress dissent.
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