Yemeni Ambassador discusses Houthi movement with Malaysian academics

Dr. Adel Mohammed Ali Bahamid, the Yemeni Ambassador to Malaysia, participated in a roundtable discussion with Malaysian academics and researchers specializing in religious sects and intellectual trends. The discussion focused on the political and ideological roots of the Houthi group, its regional connections, and the consequences of the conflict for Yemen and regional security.

Ambassador Bahamid stated that the core of the conflict is the Houthi group’s seizure of state institutions by force to impose a political project that contradicts the principles of a national state and equal citizenship. He emphasized the need to distinguish between the Zaydi school of thought, an integral part of Yemeni society, and the Houthi political and military project.

The Ambassador also addressed the relationship between the Houthi group and Iran, describing Iranian military and political support as blatant interference in Yemen’s internal affairs. He noted that this support prolongs the conflict and enables threats to regional security and international navigation in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab. Regarding the Palestinian cause, Bahamid affirmed the Yemeni government’s support for Palestinian rights while rejecting the exploitation of the issue to justify violations against Yemenis or to legitimize the use of force.