Barran Press
The Houthi group, internationally designated as a terrorist organization, has subjected approximately 41 local officials, brought in from various provinces under their control to intensive indoctrination programs with a sectarian slant in the capital Sana'a over the past few days.
The Houthi-controlled version of the Saba news agency reported that the indoctrination course aligns with the directives of the group's leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, and the head of the coup's ruling council, Mahdi al-Mashat, to build the capacity of local authority cadres in "religious and cultural aspects."
The agency also indicated that this course is considered the second level of "building" after the completion of first-level courses for all district directors. It noted that the course includes "religious, administrative, practical aspects, and activities in various fields, aiming to enhance field work."
Observers view this move as a continuation of a widespread "Houthification" process targeting the local administration sector under the control of the rebels. In previous years, the group had already dismissed hundreds of local officials and employees from their positions, replacing them with individuals loyal to the group's leader.
Yemeni activists have spoken about the group allocating substantial funds to target dozens of local officials in areas under their control with sectarian programs, while hundreds of employees and workers endure severe hardship due to continued deprivation of their salaries and basic necessities.
According to activists, local officials have faced significant pressure to participate, threatened with dismissal under what the group claims are "radical changes" announced earlier.
Last May, the American Center for Justice (ACJ) accused the Houthi group, internationally designated as a terrorist organization, of "forcing academics to attend combat courses," considering this a "serious infringement on the sanctity of the mission of education."
In a post on the X platform, monitored by "Barran Press," the American Center for Justice shared a "picture" of a group of academics working at Ibb University, stating that the Houthi group, internationally designated as a terrorist organization, "forced them to attend one of its combat courses organized for various segments of employees and workers."
The Houthi group, internationally designated as a terrorist organization, is actively implementing "cultural courses" in areas under its control, particularly targeting executive offices in governorates and districts, government employees in the Ministry of Education, and even "literacy" employees, not even sparing local community leaders.
Through these courses, the group seeks to entrap teachers in brainwashing students in schools and instilling them with ideological and sectarian beliefs, paving the way for their deployment on battlefields.
In recent months, the Houthis have expanded their organization of cultural courses, which have progressed to include weapons training, targeting academics at various Yemeni universities under their control, such as Sana'a and Ibb universities.