Mecca, Saudi Arabia - The participation of a delegation from the internationally classified terrorist group, the Houthi group, in this year's Hajj season, has caused widespread controversy and garnered a wave of disgruntled responses on social media platforms. The Houthi delegation was captured in a video clip chanting "sectarian slogans" while performing Hajj rituals in the holy sites, despite warnings issued by Saudi authorities against any politicization of the religious duty and attempts to undermine the security and peace of pilgrims.

In the circulating clip, Yahya Al-Razami, the Houthi group's military leader and head of the Houthi Military Committee, was prominently featured among the delegation. Security personnel from the Saudi authorities accompanied the Houthi delegation during the circumambulation.

The release of the video clip came just two days after a speech by Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthi group, who launched an attack on Saudi Arabia, accusing the country of exploiting the Hajj obligation to impose taxes on pilgrims.

The video clip has garnered significant attention on social media platforms, with Yemenis, Saudis, and Arabs expressing their dissatisfaction with the Houthis. Many individuals recalled the threats made by the Houthis against the holy city of Mecca as part of their military escalation and war against Yemen and neighboring countries, including Saudi Arabia.

Provocation

“Bran Press” monitored some of these responses and comments, starting with Abdul Ghani Jameel, the Secretary of the Capital in the internationally recognized Yemeni government, who described the Houthi delegation's actions inside Mecca as a clear provocation, emphasizing that there is no room for justifications. Other commentators, such as Adel Al-Maduri, criticized the Houthis' interpretation of simple clips of people performing Umrah prayers, viewing them as false victories.

Hollow screams

In this context, journalist Saleh Al-Baydani said, “Raising empty screams and sectarian slogans in holy places is not a heroic act.”.

 Faisal Al-Majidi, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice, highlighted that the Houthis' actions demonstrated their disavowal of polytheists and emphasized the devotion of Muslims from all Arab and Islamic countries to worshiping God alone.

Saudi and Arab

Critics of the Houthis, including Saudi and Arab social media users, expressed their strong disapproval of the delegation's behavior.

“Shaab Al-Marzouqi,” a Saudi account identifier, commented on the clip of the Houthis in the Haram, saying: “All the guests of the Most Merciful are respected, except the Houthis, who have proven that they are guests of Satan.”

He believes that “exploiting the crowd of pilgrims and broadcasting some sectarian slogans is evidence of malice and low morals,” and said, “These are scum that lack the lowest principles of manhood and fear of God, and if they believe that these actions will pass peacefully, then they are delusional because people like them deserve nothing more than stepping on boots, spit in their faces, and insulting their dignity.”.

He continued: "We used to hear the word: 'If you honor the generous, you will control him, and if you honor the mean, he will rebel.' And this is what we saw in the audio and video of these scum, that they are more mean than any mean person. We ask God to show us in them what will heal the hearts of a believing people."

In turn, blogger "Issa Al-Zahrani" said that "Iran's henchmen chanting slogans inside the Grand Mosque in Mecca will not go unnoticed. Everyone who carries out these actions will receive their deterrent punishment at the appropriate time."

He added: "All these actions are monitored in audio and video, and neither you nor anyone else will benefit you, O servants of Abdul-Malik al-Houthi. Unfortunately, these mobs are mistaken for Yemeni pilgrims. These are henchmen, agents, and traitors who did not come for the sake of Hajj. They came for the sake of these slogans."

Mustafa Kamel, an Egyptian journalist and editor-in-chief of the Perspectives newspaper, wrote: “Members of the official delegation of the Houthi terrorist gangs to the Hajj season, led by Major General Yahya Al-Razami, are chanting in the Holy Mosque of Mecca sectarian slogans denouncing loyalty to their terrorist master, Abdul-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, and disavowal of his enemies.” They are among the enemies of Imam Ali, may God be pleased with him, and they mean the Companions of the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, while providing official protection to prevent the pilgrims from responding to this intended provocation.”

He added: "This ceremony falls within the rituals of the Hajj of Innocence, which the Supreme Leader of the criminal, racist, sectarian, terrorist guardianship regime, Ali Khamenei, called for to hold during the Hajj rituals." He concluded his post by saying, "Oh God, liberate Yemen from this racist, sectarian dynastic gang and return it to its honorable people."