Abdul-Malik Badreddin al-Houthi

Abdul-Malik al-Houthi
Nickname(s) Abdul-Malik
Born (1979-01-01) 1 January 1979
Saada Governorate, Yemen[1]
Allegiance Houthis
Battles/wars Shia insurgency in Yemen

Abdul-Malik Badreddin al-Houthi (Arabic: عبد الملك بدر الدين الحوثي‎) is a leader of the Zaidi movement Ansar Allah (Houthis). His brothers Yahia Badreddin al-Houthi and Abdul-Karim Badreddin Al-Houthi are also leaders of the group, as was his late brother Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi.[2][3][4][5] Abdul-Malik Houthi is the leading figure in an insurgency in the Sadah province in northern Yemen which has been continuing from 2004 to the present day. The uprising has been called the Houthi Rebellion due to his leadership. The Zaidi community comprises around half of the population of Yemen, concentrated in the north. In traditional Zaidi religious belief if there is no clear leader for the Zaidi community a Caliph can emerge through armed struggle. Yemen was formerly ruled by a Zaidi Caliphate that ended in 1962.

Personal life

Abdul-Malik was born in Saada, northern Yemen, in 1982. Some sources stated that he was born on 22 May 1979.[6][7] His father, Badreddin al-Houthi, was a religious scholar of Yemen's minority Zaydi Shia sect. Also, Badreddin al-Houthi turned to Jaroudi sect after traveling to Iran between 1994 and 2002 (alleged).[6] Abdul-Malik al-Houthi was the youngest among his eight brothers.[8] His older brother, Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi, was politically active and a member of the parliament of Yemen. He was a serious critic of Saleh. Hussein founded the Houthis movement to promote Zaidi thought, rise against the oppressors ruling Yemen, and to provide educational and social services. After Hussein al-Houthi died, Abdul-Malik succeeded him by taking control of the movement.

Political activity

Abdul-Malik al-Houthi has criticized the Yemeni government for keeping a status quo in the country, which he said had plunged people into poverty, and accused the government of marginalizing the Zaidi community.[9] The Yemeni government of president Ali Abdullah Saleh accused al-Houthi's group of trying to reestablish the "clerical imamate" (Shia Islamic government), which al-Houthi denied.[10]

Houthi was claimed to have been heavily injured during an air raid in December 2009, a claim denied by a spokesman.[11] On 26 December 2009, it was claimed that Houthi had been killed after 2 days from a heavy air strike from the Royal Saudi Air Force.[12][13] However, the claim was refuted by the Houthis which then released video evidence proving he was alive.[14]

Houthi addressed the nation on Yemen TV in a late-night speech on 20 January 2015 after troops loyal to him seized the presidential palace and attacked the private residence of president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi in Sana'a. He demanded Hadi implement reforms giving the Houthi movement more control over the government.[15] Although it was initially reported that Hadi conceded to Houthi's demands,[16] the president resigned from office on 22 January, saying the political process had "reached a dead end".[17] The UN Security Council imposed sanctions on Houthi leader Abdul Malik Al-Houthi.[18] Abdul Malik Al-Houthi also praised by Mohsen Rezaei, Iran's Expediency discernment council strategy and former senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in terms of a statement of moral support and defense of real Islamic awakening.[19] Abdul Malik also committed to ban using children as soldier in November 2012.[20]

During bombarding the Sanaa's airport by Saudi-led coalition warplanes, missiles pounded rebel chief al-Houthi's hometown of Marran.[21]

International reaction

The UN announced a travel ban on Abdul Malik in November 2014 after the Houthi takeover of Sana'a.[22] During a visit to the northern province, Jamal Benomar, the former UN envoy to Yemen, both met with Abdul Malik and said that he supported Al Houthi group in their rejection of moving the talks between Al Houthi and current government outside of Yemen in spite of complaint of Hadi as the Yemeni legitimate president.[23] UN envoy, Jamal Benomar, has warned that the imposed sanctions on somebodies such as Abdul Malik could restrict reach of humanitarian aid to Yemen.[24]

References

  1. ↑ Peterson, J.E. (2008). "The al-Huthi Conflict in Yemen" (PDF). Arabian Peninsula Background Note. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  2. ↑ Yemeni rebel leader denies seeking Shi'ite state. Mail & Guardian. 29 September 2009.
  3. ↑ Almasmari, Hakim (6 September 2009). “My Group”, Abdul Malik Al-Houthi. Yemen Post.
  4. ↑ Iran urges all sides to end Yemen conflict. İslâmi Davet. 24 November 2009.
  5. ↑ the 500 most influential muslim,p.166.2009,ed by John Esposito & Ebrahim Kalin
  6. 1 2 "Abdul Malik Al Houthi: The Shiite Thorn on Yemen’s side". http://www.albawabaeg.com. Retrieved 27 April 2015. External link in |website= (help)
  7. ↑ "Yemen's Abd-al-Malik al-Houthi". BBC. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "Abdel-Malek al-Houthi: from shadow rebel leader to kingmaker". http://www.middleeasteye.net. Retrieved 27 April 2015. External link in |website= (help)
  9. ↑ "PressTV".
  10. ↑ "The World Almanac of Islamism".
  11. ↑ Houthis: Our leader is not injured. Press TV. 21 December 2009.
  12. ↑ Increasing reports over death of terrorist al-Houthi. Yemen News Agency. 27 December 2009.
  13. ↑ In a slip of the tongue…Abdul-Malik al-Houthi confirmed dead
  14. ↑ Press TV In Yemen, Houthi leader appears in video
  15. ↑ "Yemen leader expected to accept demands of Houthis who defeat his guards". Reuters. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  16. ↑ "PRESIDENT APPROVES HOUTHI DEMANDS". The Yemen Times. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  17. ↑ "Yemen president quits, throwing country deeper into chaos". Reuters. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  18. ↑ "Jordan: UN Security Council to review position on Yemen next week". Middle East Monitor - The Latest from the Middle East.
  19. ↑ "Iran's Mohsen Rezaei Writes Open Letter to Yemen's Abdul Malik al Houthi - Critical Threats".
  20. ↑ "Yemen's Houthis intensify use of child soldiers, says rights group". Middle East Eye.
  21. ↑ "Coalition Raids Pound Houthi Targets Sanaa Saada - Al Jazeera America".
  22. ↑ "Yemen’s ex-president attempts to leave country, fails: sources". ASHARQ AL-AWSAT.
  23. ↑ "UN envoy Benomar sought to legitimize Houthi coup: Yemen FM". ASHARQ AL-AWSAT.
  24. ↑ "PressTV".

External links

Preceded by
Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi		 Leader of al-Shabab al-Muminin
September 2004 – present 		Succeeded by
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