Abdul-Malik Badreddin al-Houthi

Abdul-Malik Badreddin al-Houthi (Arabic: عبدالملک بدرالدین الحوثی‎) is a leader of the Zaidi Shia movement Ansar Allah (Houthis). His brothers Yahia Badreddin al-Houthi and Abdul-Karim Badreddin Al-Houthi are also leaders of the group, as was his late brother Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi.^[2][3][4]

Personal life

Abdul-Malik was born in northern Yemen ,Saada, in 1982. Some sources stated that he was born on 22 May 1979.^[5][6] His father, Badreddin al-Houthi, was a outstanding religious scholar of Yemen's minority Zaydi Shia sect. His father also turned to Jaroudi sect after traveling in Iran between 1994 to 2002.^[5] Abdul-Malik al-Houthi was the youngest among his eight brothers.^[7] His older brother, Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi, is a political active and member of parliament of Yemen. Hussein founded the Houthis movement aimed at promoting Zaidi rights and providing educational and social services. Hussein also was a serious critic of Saleh.^[7]it is also worth noting that the other brother of Abdul-Malik, namely sayyed Yahya badreddin was a political active in Yemen and he also was the leader of Shabab Al-Muminin.^[8]

Political activity

Abdul-Malik al-Houthi criticized at first the Yemeni government for seeking to keep the status quo in Yemen which caused the Yemeni People pluged into poverty. He emphasized on the rights of The Yemeni people to get their requirements and demends. According to Abdul-Malik the govermnet of Yemen is charge of corruption of shia people.^[9] The Yemeni government, led by president ali Abdullah, accuses the shia group of al Hothi of trying to reestablish the Islamic government. While al Houthi led by Abdul Malik exprees that they are calling just for religious freedom and social justice.^[10]

Houthi was claimed to have been heavily injured during an air raid in December 2009, a claim denied by a spokesman.^[11] On 26 December 2009, it was claimed that Houthi had been killed after 2 days from a heavy air strike from the Royal Saudi Air Force.^[12][13] However, the claim was refuted by the Houthis which then released video evidence proving he was alive.^[14]

Houthi addressed the nation on Yemen TV in a late-night speech on 20 January 2015 after troops loyal to him seized the presidential palace and attacked the private residence of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi in Sana'a. He demanded Hadi implement reforms giving the Houthi movement more control over the government.^[15] Although it was initially reported that Hadi conceded to Houthi's demands,^[16] the president resigned from office on 22 January, saying the political process had "reached a dead end".^[17] The UN Security Council imposed sanctions on Houthi leader Abdulmalik Al-Houthi.^[18] Abdulmalik Al-Houthi also praised by Mohsen Rezaei, Iran's Expediency discernment council strategy and former senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in terms of a statement of moral support and defense of real Islamic awakening.^[19]

international reaction

The UN announced a travel ban on Abdul Malik in November of 2014 after the Houthi takeover of Sana'a.^[20]During a visit to the northern province,Jamal Benomar, the former UN envoy to Yemen,both met with Abdul Malik and said that he supported Al Houthi Group in their rejection of moving the talks between Al Houthi and currnet government outside of Yemen in spite of Complaint of Hadi as the Yemeni legitimate president.^[21]

References

External links

• Video of al-Houthi addressing his supporters