Human rights sources reported on Tuesday that the Iran-backed Houthi militia has allegedly prevented residents of Waraqa village in the Mefaat Anas district of Dhamar province, northern Yemen, from performing Tarawih prayers for the preceding three days.

According to the Musawaah Organization for Rights and Freedoms, the Houthis prohibited Tarawih prayers at the village mosque and detained the imam, Saleh Al-Faqir, who has been held since Monday. Villagers reported Al-Faqir's arrest and the subsequent ban on prayers.

Musawaah characterized this action as "a continuation of violations" by the Houthi group in Dhamar, citing previous instances of restrictions on Tarawih prayers and the arrests of numerous imams. The organization condemned what it perceives as an attempt to impose sectarian beliefs and infringe on religious freedoms.
Musawaah called for the immediate release of Al-Faqir and all detained imams, demanding an end to these practices and accountability for the alleged violations of religious freedom. The organization also urged the United Nations and international human rights organizations to condemn these actions and pressure the Houthi group to respect freedom of worship.

Human rights reports indicated that since seizing control of Sana'a in September 2014, the Houthi group has sought to restrict Tarawih prayers in areas under its control, with critics arguing this is an effort to impose ideological doctrines inconsistent with traditional Yemeni practices.