“Ansarullah’s Relations with Salafist Sub-Entities in Yemen” held by ABNA
An expert on Yemen affairs, and the director of the Islamic Africa department of Mersad Think Tank, stated, “There are several Salafi movements in Yemen, including Najdi, Ikhwani, and Jihadi Salafists. The Ikhwani Salafi was formed in Yemen during the time of Hassan al-Banna. The Salafi Jihadi in Yemen is in fact the same as “Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula,” the center of which is the Shabwa province.”
ABWA Official Website – On Wednesday, November 20, 2024, the scientific meeting “Ansarullah’s Relations with Salafist Sub-Entities in Yemen” was held by the Department of Studies and Research of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, in cooperation with the AhlulBayt (a.s.) International News Agency – ABNA – in the news agency’s meeting hall in Qom. The speaker of the meeting was Hojat al-Islam Dr. Iman Mohammadi, an expert on Yemen affairs, and the director of the Islamic Africa department of Mersad Think Tank.
Special religious diversity in Yemen
In this meeting, referring to the importance of Yemen, Hojat al-Islam Dr. Iman Mohammadi stated, “Yemen is an ancient country whose civilizational income has been through trade. The country is strategically important due to its special geography. About 9 to 11 percent of global trade, and the world’s main Internet cables, pass through the Bab al-Mandab Strait (which is under Yemen’s control). A large part of Asia’s trade to the West passes through Yemen, and the country is known as the southern gateway to the world. Therefore, countries were looking for a foothold in Yemen.”
“Yemen has long had a special religious diversity, and Sufis have a special place in the country. According to estimates, about 30 to 35 percent of the Yemeni population is Zaidi, 30 to 35 percent is Shafi’i, 20 to 25 percent is Salafi, and the rest of the country’s population is from other sects, including Ismaili and Twelver Shiite. Religious depth in Yemen is low and people easily switch from one sect to another. On the other hand, the school perspective (not the religious perspective) of Ansarullah has prevailed in Yemen, and this issue led to the opening of the country’s religious space,” he continued.
The expert on Yemen affairs, and the director of the Islamic Africa department of Mersad Think Tank, added, “In the 1980s, in response to the Salafis’ activities, a group called the Shabab Union was formed in the Zaidi areas of Yemen. The activities of this group, which operated in some mosques in these areas, included expressing Zaidi concepts and regional developments. Then, after the formation of the United Yemen, several parties, including the Haq (The Truth) Party, were formed by the Zaidis in Yemen. However, these parties did not achieve their goals. Therefore, the Shabab Momin Association was established in 1992. Finally, in the late 20th century, Sayed Hussein al-Houthi organized the Shabab Momin (the Faithful Youth). He could transform the Shabab Momin into a combat organization through education and organization.”
Various Salafi Movements in Yemen
Referring to the Yemeni government’s wars against the Shabab Momin, Mohammadi stated, “In 2004, the Yemeni government launched its first war against the Shabab Momin. The reason for this war was the Shabab Momin’s protest against the government’s allowance for Salafists to operate in Zaidi-populated areas. In the first war, Sayed Hussein al-Houthi was martyred. Sayed Abdul Malek al-Houthi entered the field during the third war, and after the end of this war, his leadership of the movement was consolidated. Sayed Abdul Malik al-Houthi believed that the Shabab Momin should go beyond the Zaidi religion. Therefore, the Ansarullah movement was formed, which was supra-religious, and Shafi’i Sunnis and Sufis also joined the movement. After the failure of the Yemeni national dialogue in 2013, the Ansarullah movement entered state-building; the process continues to this day. About 60 to 70 percent of the Yemeni population lives in areas under the control of Ansarullah, and in areas outside the control of the movement, there are various actors.”
He further said, “In the process that it has gone through over the years, the Yemeni Ansarullah movement has formed a Zaidi stronghold in the provinces of Saada, Amran, and Sana’a, and does not allow any non-Zaidi actors, including Salafis, to operate in these areas. But outside these areas, it even negotiates with Salafis. The Salafis in Yemen have two branches; a Najdi Salafi movement whose Salafism is related to the Najd region, and Zaidi Salafi, whose Salafism was through Ibn Taymiyyah himself. The latter has always interacted with the ruling movement in Sana’a and has actually been an uprising against the Zaidis. Because the Zaidis at that time were a completely rational movement and created a noble class of Sadats that separated them from other social groups in society. The difference between the Zaidi Salafi and the Najdi Salafi movement is that they do not believe in takfir.”
“There are several Salafi movements in Yemen, including Najdi, Ikhwani, and Jihadi Salafists. The Ikhwani Salafi was formed in Yemen during the time of Hassan al-Banna. The Salafi Jihadi in Yemen is in fact the same as “Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula,” the center of which is the Shabwa province,” added the expert on Yemen affairs, and the director of the Islamic Africa department of Mersad Think Tank.
The Ansarullah Movement’s Method of Interaction with Salafis
Regarding the Ansarullah Movement’s method of interaction with Salafis, Mohammadi said, “This movement does not allow Salafis to do any activities in the regions of Saada, Amran, and Sana’a, which are historically considered Zaidi regions. In 2011, Ansarullah began its movements to close the Salafi center of Damaj in Saada and finally could close this center before the revolution against the government of Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. However, in other areas of Yemen which are under the control of the Ansarullah, the movement established a peaceful coexistence agreement with the Salafis. According to this agreement, the Salafis should not do any activities against Ansarullah, and in return, Ansarullah allows them to operate in these areas.”
“Ansarullah’s approach to the Zaidi Salafi movement was to remove Judge Muhammad Ismail Amrani, the Chief Judge of Yemen, from the movement’s leaders, and to close his schools. The Zaidi Salafi movement’s activities are limited to the Zaidi areas of Yemen, and it is not active in other areas of the country. It seems that if Ansarullah’s rule continues, nothing will remain of the Zaidi Salafi movement in Yemen. Ansarullah did not tolerate the jihadi Salafis either and expelled tribes allied with Al-Qaeda from the areas under its control. Ansarullah has no connection with the Salafi Jihadi movement and is opposed to their presence, even in the Sunni areas under its control,” he continued.
“The Yemeni Ansarullah movement did not tolerate the Muslim Brotherhood movement in the areas under its control, and after taking power, it closed the Al-Iman University in Sanaa, belonging to Abdul Majeed Al-Zindani, one of the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood. Although after the Al-Aqsa Storm Operation, the Yemeni Muslim Brotherhood considered confrontation with Ansarullah as playing in the US field and considered it forbidden, Ansarullah has not established any ties with the Muslim Brotherhood in the country,” said the expert on Yemen affairs, and the director of the Islamic Africa department of Mersad Think Tank at the end of his speech.
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An expert on Yemen affairs, and the director of the Islamic Africa department of Mersad Think Tank, stated, “There are several Salafi movements in Yemen, including Najdi, Ikhwani, and Jihadi Salafists. The Ikhwani Salafi was formed in Yemen during the time of Hassan al-Banna. The Salafi Jihadi in Yemen is in fact the same as “Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula,” the center of which is the Shabwa province.”
ABWA Official Website – On Wednesday, November 20, 2024, the scientific meeting “Ansarullah’s Relations with Salafist Sub-Entities in Yemen” was held by the Department of Studies and Research of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, in cooperation with the AhlulBayt (a.s.) International News Agency – ABNA – in the news agency’s meeting hall in Qom. The speaker of the meeting was Hojat al-Islam Dr. Iman Mohammadi, an expert on Yemen affairs, and the director of the Islamic Africa department of Mersad Think Tank.
Special religious diversity in Yemen
In this meeting, referring to the importance of Yemen, Hojat al-Islam Dr. Iman Mohammadi stated, “Yemen is an ancient country whose civilizational income has been through trade. The country is strategically important due to its special geography. About 9 to 11 percent of global trade, and the world’s main Internet cables, pass through the Bab al-Mandab Strait (which is under Yemen’s control). A large part of Asia’s trade to the West passes through Yemen, and the country is known as the southern gateway to the world. Therefore, countries were looking for a foothold in Yemen.”
“Yemen has long had a special religious diversity, and Sufis have a special place in the country. According to estimates, about 30 to 35 percent of the Yemeni population is Zaidi, 30 to 35 percent is Shafi’i, 20 to 25 percent is Salafi, and the rest of the country’s population is from other sects, including Ismaili and Twelver Shiite. Religious depth in Yemen is low and people easily switch from one sect to another. On the other hand, the school perspective (not the religious perspective) of Ansarullah has prevailed in Yemen, and this issue led to the opening of the country’s religious space,” he continued.
The expert on Yemen affairs, and the director of the Islamic Africa department of Mersad Think Tank, added, “In the 1980s, in response to the Salafis’ activities, a group called the Shabab Union was formed in the Zaidi areas of Yemen. The activities of this group, which operated in some mosques in these areas, included expressing Zaidi concepts and regional developments. Then, after the formation of the United Yemen, several parties, including the Haq (The Truth) Party, were formed by the Zaidis in Yemen. However, these parties did not achieve their goals. Therefore, the Shabab Momin Association was established in 1992. Finally, in the late 20th century, Sayed Hussein al-Houthi organized the Shabab Momin (the Faithful Youth). He could transform the Shabab Momin into a combat organization through education and organization.”
Various Salafi Movements in Yemen
Referring to the Yemeni government’s wars against the Shabab Momin, Mohammadi stated, “In 2004, the Yemeni government launched its first war against the Shabab Momin. The reason for this war was the Shabab Momin’s protest against the government’s allowance for Salafists to operate in Zaidi-populated areas. In the first war, Sayed Hussein al-Houthi was martyred. Sayed Abdul Malek al-Houthi entered the field during the third war, and after the end of this war, his leadership of the movement was consolidated. Sayed Abdul Malik al-Houthi believed that the Shabab Momin should go beyond the Zaidi religion. Therefore, the Ansarullah movement was formed, which was supra-religious, and Shafi’i Sunnis and Sufis also joined the movement. After the failure of the Yemeni national dialogue in 2013, the Ansarullah movement entered state-building; the process continues to this day. About 60 to 70 percent of the Yemeni population lives in areas under the control of Ansarullah, and in areas outside the control of the movement, there are various actors.”
He further said, “In the process that it has gone through over the years, the Yemeni Ansarullah movement has formed a Zaidi stronghold in the provinces of Saada, Amran, and Sana’a, and does not allow any non-Zaidi actors, including Salafis, to operate in these areas. But outside these areas, it even negotiates with Salafis. The Salafis in Yemen have two branches; a Najdi Salafi movement whose Salafism is related to the Najd region, and Zaidi Salafi, whose Salafism was through Ibn Taymiyyah himself. The latter has always interacted with the ruling movement in Sana’a and has actually been an uprising against the Zaidis. Because the Zaidis at that time were a completely rational movement and created a noble class of Sadats that separated them from other social groups in society. The difference between the Zaidi Salafi and the Najdi Salafi movement is that they do not believe in takfir.”
“There are several Salafi movements in Yemen, including Najdi, Ikhwani, and Jihadi Salafists. The Ikhwani Salafi was formed in Yemen during the time of Hassan al-Banna. The Salafi Jihadi in Yemen is in fact the same as “Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula,” the center of which is the Shabwa province,” added the expert on Yemen affairs, and the director of the Islamic Africa department of Mersad Think Tank.
The Ansarullah Movement’s Method of Interaction with Salafis
Regarding the Ansarullah Movement’s method of interaction with Salafis, Mohammadi said, “This movement does not allow Salafis to do any activities in the regions of Saada, Amran, and Sana’a, which are historically considered Zaidi regions. In 2011, Ansarullah began its movements to close the Salafi center of Damaj in Saada and finally could close this center before the revolution against the government of Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. However, in other areas of Yemen which are under the control of the Ansarullah, the movement established a peaceful coexistence agreement with the Salafis. According to this agreement, the Salafis should not do any activities against Ansarullah, and in return, Ansarullah allows them to operate in these areas.”
“Ansarullah’s approach to the Zaidi Salafi movement was to remove Judge Muhammad Ismail Amrani, the Chief Judge of Yemen, from the movement’s leaders, and to close his schools. The Zaidi Salafi movement’s activities are limited to the Zaidi areas of Yemen, and it is not active in other areas of the country. It seems that if Ansarullah’s rule continues, nothing will remain of the Zaidi Salafi movement in Yemen. Ansarullah did not tolerate the jihadi Salafis either and expelled tribes allied with Al-Qaeda from the areas under its control. Ansarullah has no connection with the Salafi Jihadi movement and is opposed to their presence, even in the Sunni areas under its control,” he continued.
“The Yemeni Ansarullah movement did not tolerate the Muslim Brotherhood movement in the areas under its control, and after taking power, it closed the Al-Iman University in Sanaa, belonging to Abdul Majeed Al-Zindani, one of the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood. Although after the Al-Aqsa Storm Operation, the Yemeni Muslim Brotherhood considered confrontation with Ansarullah as playing in the US field and considered it forbidden, Ansarullah has not established any ties with the Muslim Brotherhood in the country,” said the expert on Yemen affairs, and the director of the Islamic Africa department of Mersad Think Tank at the end of his speech.
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