Preventing mixing" and "confronting the soft war"... Houthi pretexts to destroy education in Yemen
English - Saturday 26 August 2023 الساعة 04:57 pm
Sana'a, NewsYemen, exclusive:
At a time when Khaled Al-Qarouti - one of the extremist religious figures in the Houthi militia - was delivering sermons and lectures inside a mosque in Sana'a to incite against educational and academic facilities; Armed elements were raiding and storming an institute specialized in teaching English under the pretext of "preventing mixing" and "confronting soft warfare".
A systematic war led by the Houthi militia and their prominent leaders in order to disrupt government and private educational facilities; With the aim of forcing male and female students to head towards universities and institutes established by the group with the aim of sectarianizing generations and spreading extremist and wrong ideas transferred from the Iranian approach.
The Seeds Institute, which specializes in teaching English, was the latest victim of the Houthi war on the educational sector, as armed Houthi elements stormed the institute's building and assaulted the administration before it was completely closed.
Student sources at the institute reported that the Houthi militia clamped down on workers and scholars during the past periods, starting with separating male students from female students, as well as preventing mixing and allocating study days for all sexes. Despite the institute's commitment to the Houthi requirements, the militias are now looking for any justifications to close it, like the rest of the private institutes that were closed in Sana'a.
The sources added: The institute’s administration held a graduation ceremony for a number of its students. This prompted the Houthi militia to attend the institute and close it under the pretext of not taking permission from their alumni club to hold the ceremony.
What educational facilities, whether universities or private schools, are subjected to in terms of closures, imposition of fines, and continuous restrictions; It comes as a result of systematic incitement campaigns led by the Houthi militia under the pretext of "confronting the soft war", which they say targets their group and is funded from abroad.
And during the past days; Many activists and leaders of the Houthi militia have circulated; A video recording of the so-called Khaled Al-Qarouti, as he ascended one of the pulpits of the mosques under the control of the Houthis, and delivered a speech in which he attacked universities, academics, and educational facilities that promote mixing and call for the destruction of society.
The Houthi leader accused university teachers of being agents and leading the "soft war" targeting them. He emphasized that America is using academics in universities to corrupt the nation by recruiting university professors to carry out this dangerous war, as he put it. The Houthi extremist called on his group's supporters to stand up to this war and those behind it - in direct incitement against teachers and academics.
Promoting rumors and inciting from mosque platforms against the educational sector; It came in response to the escalation of protests led by teachers more than a month ago, to demand the payment of the monthly salaries that the Houthi leaders have been looting for nearly 8 years. The attack by al-Qarouti, who works as a teacher at the Faculty of Islamic Studies at Dhamar University, coincided with a media incitement campaign launched by Houthi activists and leaders against teachers who are continuing their strike.
The Faculty Members Union at Sana'a University commented in a strongly worded statement on the false accusations promoted by the Houthi militia, including the so-called Al-Qarouti, against the academics. Explaining that what is happening is "moral degeneration."
The union issued a statement, in which it responded to the systematic targeting of its members by the Houthi leaders, whether through the militia's media or from the pulpits of mosques. They explained that what is being promoted is a blatant and extremist targeting of Yemeni academics who are carrying out their national duty despite the suspension of their salaries and the deterioration of their economic and health status.
The union said in its statement: The patience of academics and faculty members to stop paying their salaries encouraged some to abuse them and disrespect them, and this is what the union rejects altogether. Explaining that their sacrifices are met by some with insults and denial, and the use of languages that contain arrogance, abuse, and hostility towards them repeatedly.
And she warned against the continuation of these campaigns that offend faculty members in Yemeni universities, and harm them in order to distort their image in front of Yemeni society and stir it up against them, stressing that it reserves the legal right to prosecute anyone who offends its affiliates by all means, including resorting to the judiciary in accordance with the laws on defamation crimes. Insult and defamation, in a way that guarantees rehabilitation for faculty members at Sana'a University and other universities.
