Fri Sep 20 11:45:53 UTC 2024: ## Ten Years of Huthi Rule in Sanaa: A City Under Siege
**Sanaa, Yemen** – Ten years of Huthi rule have left a profound mark on the ancient Yemeni capital, Sanaa. While the Iran-backed rebels initially gained popularity through promises of change, their iron-fisted grip has eroded many freedoms and plunged the city into a state of economic and social despair.
Since 2014, when the Huthis seized control of Sanaa, Yemen has experienced a dramatic decline, with many citizens lamenting a return to conditions reminiscent of decades past. The war that engulfed the country in 2015, sparked by a Saudi-led coalition seeking to oust the Huthis, has further compounded the suffering, leaving Yemen as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
“We thought about buying a car or a house,” says Yahya, 39, reflecting on a bygone era. “Now we think about how to feed ourselves.”
The Huthis, who adhere to a strict interpretation of Shiite Islam, have imposed a stringent regime, controlling almost every aspect of daily life. Social gatherings are tightly regulated, with men and women segregated in public spaces. Pro-Huthi slogans adorn buildings, replacing the once-vibrant political discourse with a suffocating uniformity.
“The social and political atmosphere has become very closed,” says researcher Maysaa Shuja al-Deen of the Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies. “We used to have political parties, active civic organizations, NGOs… coffee shops where men and women could sit together.”
Freedom of expression has been severely curtailed. Amnesty International has documented numerous cases of activists, journalists, and political opponents being convicted on fabricated charges. Fear of reprisal has forced many to flee, leaving behind families and livelihoods.
“I made the decision without thinking too much,” says Majed, the director of a Yemeni non-governmental organization who escaped to Jordan. “Leaving was a risky choice, but it was the only one.”
While the Huthis have garnered support for their attacks against Israel, aimed at demonstrating solidarity with the Palestinians, these actions have stalled peace negotiations and further isolated Yemen.
Many Yemenis, like Rim, 43, long for the day they can return to their homeland. “I dream of getting my life back,” she says, unable to return to Sanaa to bury her father or attend her siblings’ weddings.
As Yemen grapples with the consequences of Huthi rule, the city of Sanaa, once a symbol of Yemeni culture and history, stands as a testament to the human cost of conflict and oppression. The future remains uncertain, but the yearning for a return to a more peaceful and prosperous past persists among the Yemeni people.
First Piper 