Tribes in Yemen's Al Jawf province, specifically from the Deham and Al Jawf confederations, boycotted an armed rally organized by the Houthi militia in the provincial capital of Al Hazm on Sunday. The boycott was a protest against the continued detention of Sheikh Hamad bin Rashid Fadgham Al Hazmi and a woman seeking his protection, Meera Saddam Hussein. Local sources reported that the widespread tribal boycott compelled the Houthi militia to deploy security and military forces and transport dozens of individuals from Marib and Sanaa to Al Jawf by truck, reportedly in exchange for payment, in an attempt to mask the significant failure of their planned tribal mobilization. This action follows a statement issued by the Deham tribes the previous day, urging all tribal members to disregard the Houthi invitation to attend a gathering in 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 continued breach of agreements and pledges. The statement also called for the exoneration of Sheikh Mansour Salem bin Abdan, who led a tribal mediation effort. Bin Abdan had pledged to lift a tribal blockade in exchange for the Houthis' commitment to release the detainees, emphasizing that the tribes would not permit the embarrassment of mediators or a retraction of previous commitments. Activists and tribal elders circulated calls on social media platforms encouraging members of the Deham and Bakil tribes to boycott any Houthi-sponsored activities, meetings, or rallies. They characterized the militia's conduct as a betrayal of mediations and a severe insult to tribal customs that prohibit abandoning those seeking sanctuary. The roots of the crisis trace back to the previous week, when tribal mediation successfully de-escalated a rising military tension in the Al Yatamah region. The Deham tribes had established a tribal blockade at that time to demand the release of Sheikh Al Hazmi and the woman he was protecting, who were reportedly abducted by the militia at the Al Hatareesh checkpoint north of Sanaa while returning to Al Jawf. The woman, Meera Saddam Hussein, had sought refuge with Sheikh Al Hazmi seeking protection and the restoration of her rights after her home was allegedly raided and looted by Houthi leader Faris Manaa. This incident ignited widespread tribal anger in the province, viewed as a violation of domestic sanctity and a transgression against the tribal custom of protecting those seeking refuge. |
