Houthis and their allies destroy mosques and kidnap imams

Houthi militias and their allies, notably forces loyal to ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh, have destroyed or damaged 578 mosques in Yemen and kidnapped 150 imams, a Saudi newspaper alleged on Friday. According to Okaz, there are reports that in some areas the Houthis are obliging imams to use sectarian slogans to incite people to kill, destroy property and create divisions within society.

One report, issued after contact was made with Yemeni scholars, claims that 29 mosques have been completely destroyed by the Houthis; 24 others were partially destroyed; and dozens of others have been damaged by explosions and air strikes.

Furthermore, it is claimed that the Houthis destroyed 16 Qur’an teaching schools and 16 religious schools. They are also accused of raiding 146 mosques and turning them into military bases and weapons stores.

The pro-Saleh militias, meanwhile, are alleged to have raided 84 mosques over the past three years and threatened the worshippers inside. Property from at least 12 mosques has been looted, while 5 others were targeted by gunfire. Around 150 imams and an unknown number of worshippers have been kidnapped and tortured during such attacks, it is claimed.