A human rights forum held in Marib governorate (northeast Yemen) on Saturday, June 29th, 2024, demanded the swift enactment of a law criminalizing the "Wilayat" doctrine in all its forms. The forum, organized by the "Di Yemant" organization for rights and development, condemned the doctrine as a "theological concept based on the worst forms of racial discrimination."

The forum, according to the official Yemeni news agency Saba, deemed the "Wilayat" doctrine an "assault on the Yemeni Constitution and a priestly coup against the civil and political rights of Yemenis."

Participants emphasized the importance of political parties and civil society organizations in raising public awareness about the dangers and invalidity of the doctrine, highlighting its underlying objectives. They called for these entities to strengthen the people's resilience against the "Wilayat" doctrine and pressure the international community to condemn it and the group that espouses it, citing its ideology of "excommunication, killing, terrorism, and hatred."

The forum addressed the rights enshrined in the Yemeni Constitution, which are allegedly nullified by the "Wilayat" doctrine, and the violations committed by the Houthis under its banner. They condemned the "Wilayat" doctrine, particularly its hereditary aspect, as antithetical to the state and its fundamental principles.

Participants described the "Wilayat" doctrine as a "dubious concept rooted in theological foundations and the theory of genetic selection and racial discrimination, aimed at seizing power, controlling the people, and subjecting them to enslavement under the rule of the Iranian Supreme Leader."

On the 18th of Dhu al-Hijjah each year, the Houthis and Shia groups celebrate what they call "Wilayat Day," a political and religious demonstration in which they mobilize resources to bolster their religious and political legitimacy.

Historically, this day is known as "Ghadir Khum," an event that occurred after the Farewell Pilgrimage. Shia groups claim that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) declared the appointment of Ali ibn Abi Talib as his successor and trustee on this day. This issue has been a subject of extensive debate among Islamic currents since ancient times.

Last week, Sana'a and other governorates under the control of the Houthis, internationally classified as a terrorist group, witnessed celebrations marked by the firing of live ammunition and fireworks, showcasing the group's extravagance while they withhold salaries from employees and exacerbate economic crises for the general population.