Tribes in Yemen's Al Jawf province, specifically the Daham and Al Jawf confederations, boycotted an armed demonstration organized by the Houthi militia in Al Hazm, the provincial capital. The boycott, which occurred on Sunday, was a protest against the continued detention of Sheikh Hamad bin Rashid Fadgham Al Hazmi and a woman seeking sanctuary with him, Meera Saddam Hussein. Local sources reported that the widespread tribal boycott compelled the Houthi militia to mobilize its security and military personnel. The militia reportedly bussed dozens of individuals from Marib and Sana'a to Al Jawf, offering financial incentives in an apparent attempt to mask the failure of their planned tribal gathering. This action followed a statement issued by the Daham tribes just one day prior, urging all tribal members to disregard the Houthi invitation to the provincial center. The statement reiterated the tribes' demand for the immediate and unconditional release of Sheikh Al Hazmi and the woman under his protection, holding the militia fully responsible for any escalation resulting from their breach of agreements and covenants. The tribal statement also called for the upholding of the commitment made by Sheikh Mansour Salem bin Abdan, who led a tribal mediation effort. He had pledged to lift a tribal blockade in exchange for the Houthis' release of the detainees, emphasizing that the tribes would not permit the embarrassment of mediators or a retraction of prior commitments. Activists and tribal elders shared appeals on social media platforms, encouraging members of the Daham and Bakil tribes to boycott any Houthi-sponsored movements, meetings, or demonstrations. They characterized the militia's actions as treacherous, a violation of mediation efforts, and a grave insult to tribal customs that protect those seeking sanctuary. The roots of the crisis trace back to the previous week, when tribal mediation successfully defused escalating military tensions in the Al Yatmh region. This followed the Daham tribes' erection of a tribal blockade to demand the release of Sheikh Al Hazmi and the woman he sheltered, who were reportedly abducted by the militia at the Al Hatareesh checkpoint north of Sana'a while returning to Al Jawf. The woman, identified as Meera Saddam Hussein, had sought refuge with Sheikh Al Hazmi for protection and to reclaim her rights after her home was allegedly raided and looted years prior by Houthi leader Faris Manaa. This incident had sparked widespread tribal outrage in the province, viewed as a violation of the sanctity of homes and a transgression against the tribal custom of protecting those seeking sanctuary. |
