Fri Sep 20 11:18:13 UTC 2024: ## Ten Years of Huthi Rule in Sanaa: A City Transformed
**Sanaa, Yemen** – Ten years of Huthi rule in Yemen’s ancient capital, Sanaa, have left an indelible mark on the city, its people, and its culture. Once a vibrant hub with a burgeoning civil society, Sanaa has become a shadow of its former self, shrouded in fear and strict restrictions under the Huthi regime.
The Huthis, a Zaydi Shia group who took control of Sanaa in 2014, have imposed a strict, often oppressive rule over the city and the two-thirds of Yemen’s population they control. The impact of their rule has been profound, with many residents lamenting a significant decline in living standards and personal freedoms.
“Before, we thought about how to buy a car or a house. Now we think about how to feed ourselves,” said Abu Jawad, 45, reflecting the harsh reality of life under Huthi rule. Yemen, already the poorest country in the Arabian Peninsula, has been plunged further into despair by the ongoing war and a devastating humanitarian crisis.
The Huthis have tightened their grip on all aspects of daily life, implementing a strict social code that includes segregation of men and women in public, and a pervading atmosphere of fear. Political parties, NGOs, and independent media have been silenced, replaced by a pervasive Huthi propaganda machine.
“The social and political atmosphere has become very closed,” said researcher Maysaa Shuja al-Deen, of the Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies. “It is now difficult to go against the ruling authorities, or even fail to show support.”
The regime’s crackdown on dissent is well-documented, with numerous arrests of activists, journalists, and political opponents accused of espionage. The Huthi’s control extends to the very fabric of Yemeni culture, including the rewriting of school textbooks and the alteration of the calendar to erase historical events that challenge their narrative.
Despite the hardships, some residents express a glimmer of hope, clinging to traditions and memories of the past. “Even if they forbid us from celebrating officially, we will celebrate it in our hearts,” said Abu Ahmed, 53, a Sanaa resident, speaking of the September 26th revolution, a date now supplanted by the Huthis’ own calendar.
While the Huthi regime faces widespread criticism for its human rights violations and the devastation it has inflicted on Yemen, the group enjoys a degree of popular support, particularly for its strong stance against Israel. The Huthis’ recent attacks on Israeli ships and vessels in the Red Sea, coinciding with the conflict between Israel and Hamas, have been met with widespread approval in Yemen, despite hindering efforts towards a negotiated settlement.
Many Yemenis, including those who have been forced to flee their homeland, long for the day they can return to a peaceful and prosperous Yemen. Until then, the echoes of the past and the anxieties of the present continue to shape the lives of those living under Huthi rule.
First Piper 