Barran Press
On Monday, the internationally classified terrorist organization, the Houthi group, organized a controversial paramilitary parade for children graduating from summer centers established in Saada Governorate. The Houthi group claims that 10,000 out of 120,000 summer camp students in Saada Governorate participated in the event, while the total number of enrolled students in summer centers across all governorates exceeded one million and one hundred thousand.
However, Yemeni officials and human rights organizations have criticized these figures as exaggerated attempts by the Houthis to conceal the reality. Mabrouk Al-Mismari, Director General of the Saada Governorate Information Office, stated to "Barran Press" that the Houthi group has faced growing reluctance among tribesmen due to its intellectual and sectarian activities. Al-Mismari emphasized that despite the substantial funds allocated by the group for summer centers and courses, the demand for these centers remains weak compared to the population density in areas controlled by the militias.
Al-Mismari further warned about the dangers posed by these centers, highlighting the potential for young students to be influenced by sectarian ideologies imported from Iran, which do not align with Yemen's Arab and Islamic identity. He expressed concerns that these students could be transformed into "time bombs" and serve as fuel for an upcoming war, posing a national threat to Yemen and its neighboring Arab Gulf states.
Fayez Saleh Muhammad, head of the Witness Organization for Human Rights, echoed these concerns, asserting that the summer centers aim to brainwash the younger generation and obliterate their national identity. Muhammad in his take to "Barran Press " condemned the Houthi group for exploiting these centers to recruit children and deploy them to the front lines of conflict. He emphasized that Yemeni society is increasingly rejecting the Houthis, leading the group to employ its plundered financial and media resources to portray its existence.
According to an American news agency, Media Line, over a million Yemeni children are currently undergoing ideological indoctrination in Houthi-organized summer camps. The agency's report highlighted the use of fear and coercion to compel hundreds of thousands of children to attend these camps, where they are subjected to extremist propaganda and potential military recruitment.
Media Line further revealed that the Houthi group utilizes these camps to gauge loyalty and acceptance of their actions among the younger generation. Parents who refuse to register their children face accusations of disloyalty, and in some cases, harassment and deprivation of basic rights. The agency also documented instances of parents expressing opposition to the camps, with children preferring to spend their summer vacation pursuing other educational or recreational activities.
The summer camps have become a measure of allegiance, with children attending them constituting 65% of the total number of children residing in areas under Houthi control. Since their inception in 2017, the number of participants has steadily increased, with approximately 9 million children having taken part in the camps between 2017 and 2024.
As Yemen grapples with ongoing conflict and instability, the controversial summer centers organized by the Houthi group continue to raise concerns about the indoctrination and potential militarization of Yemeni children. The international community has called for increased attention to protect the rights and well-being of these vulnerable young individuals.