Yemeni social media influencers face boycott over Houthi narrative

A widespread digital campaign has emerged on Yemeni social media platforms calling for a boycott of several content creators and influencers. The movement follows allegations that these individuals promoted Houthi militia narratives regarding the siege of Taiz.

The controversy intensified after influencer Mohammed Al-Hasani posted a video from a western entry point in Taiz, claiming the city is not under siege. This claim was met with criticism from activists who argue that filming a single access point does not negate the ongoing blockade of main roads, which has obstructed the delivery of food, medicine, fuel, and water to hundreds of thousands of residents.

Another prominent influencer, Abu Haider Al-Awlaqi, faced significant backlash after commenting in support of the video. Reports indicate that Al-Awlaqi lost over 60,000 followers on Facebook following the incident, with his follower count dropping from approximately 2.06 million to 1.9 million. Activists claim that promoting such narratives misleads public opinion and obscures the humanitarian suffering caused by the closure of essential routes and artillery targeting residential areas.