Houthi exploitation of Mawlid al-Nabi in Yemen

In Yemen, the observance of the Prophet’s Birthday (Mawlid al-Nabi) has become a point of political contention. Former Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Mohammed bin Aida Shabeeba, accused the Houthi militia of exploiting the religious occasion for political mobilization and financial extortion.

Shabeeba alleged that the group uses the event as a sectarian tool, framing the Prophet as a direct ancestor to justify their leadership and labeling non-participants as ‘infidels’ or enemies. Additionally, he claimed the militia imposes heavy levies and taxes on citizens and merchants under the guise of celebrations to finance militia activities rather than public services.

As the observance continues, Houthi-aligned institutions, including the Ministry of Finance and the Tax and Customs Authority, have held commemorative events. Finance Minister Abduljabbar Ahmed emphasized the religious significance of the occasion and directed officials to expedite salary disbursements for government employees in conjunction with the celebrations.

In response to these practices, Yemeni scholars held an intellectual seminar in Riyadh to address the Houthi militia’s use of the holiday for sectarian, political, and economic purposes. The seminar focused on countering extremist ideologies and protecting Yemeni society from sectarian infiltration. Participants discussed how the group utilizes religious symbolism for military and ideological mobilization, forces citizen attendance, and labels dissenters as traitors. Experts also highlighted the economic burdens placed on the commercial sector and citizens through mandatory contributions and levies.