Barran Press
Images circulating on social media of the son of Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi wearing a luxury Hublot watch worth over $72,000 have ignited outrage among Yemenis.
The photos, allegedly taken from the son's wedding celebration, show the young man sporting the expensive timepiece, prompting widespread condemnation from Yemeni activists. The watch's value, equivalent to 38,592,000 Yemeni rials at the Sana'a exchange rate and 130,176,000 rials at the Aden exchange rate, has fueled anger amidst the country's dire economic crisis.
Yemeni social media users, monitored by Bran Press, expressed their disgust at what they described as the Houthi leadership's "luxury" lifestyle. At the same time, Yemenis endure the world's worst economic crisis, according to UN reports.
The activists pointed out that the cost of the watch could cover the salaries of 500 Yemeni government employees, while the Houthi group has refused to pay wages to its employees in areas under its control for seven consecutive years.
"A picture from the wedding of Abdul-Malik al-Houthi's son, wearing a Hublot watch worth $72,000. Do you know that this watch is equivalent to the salaries of 500 Yemeni employees?" wrote Dr. Thabet al-Ahmadi, sharing the image on social media.
Faisal al-Majidi, Deputy Minister of Justice in the internationally recognized Yemeni government, wrote: "One of the disasters of this rule... pictures from the wedding of Abdul-Malik al-Houthi's son, wearing a Hublot watch worth $72,000. This is the system of nobility that the Houthis want to impose on Yemenis under religious slogans. Do you know that the price of this watch is equivalent to the salaries of 500 Yemeni employees?"
Media personality Hayel al-Bakali commented: "They have turned the people into hungry, homeless individuals while they enjoy the people's wealth." The "Hadhramawt Net" account posted: "The thieves of the devilish march steal the people's money to bring luxury to their children and death to the children of Yemen."
Activist Mustafa al-Qatibi commented on the image: "This is the rule they want, the people starving while they are in extreme wealth." Sarah al-Ariqi wrote: "You didn't bless the evil of the cave, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, his son is getting married, and not only that, but he's wearing a Hublot watch worth $72,000."
Al-Ariqi added: "Yemeni citizen, do you know that the value of this watch is equivalent to the salary of 500 employees? Now you know where the employees' salaries go. For their children, they starved the Yemeni people, killed them, and destroyed their country."
Dr. Yasser al-Sharabi wrote: "They trade in the Ghadeer, they take people out into the streets, and their children are in luxury and extravagance. They deprived people of their salaries and rights while they are in luxury. Pictures from the wedding of Abdul-Malik al-Houthi's son, wearing a Hublot watch worth $72,000. Do you know that this watch is equivalent to the salaries of 500 Yemeni employees?"