Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis accuse Baha’is of seeking to divide Muslims, in an effort to incite hatred against the religious minority.

In a statement last week, Sayyid Abdul-Malik Badreddin Al-Houthi, the Secretary-General of Yemen’s Shia political party Ansar Allah, accused Baha’is of seeking to create disunity among Muslims.

An article in ParsToday said:

“Explaining that the lost Baha’i group is receiving full support from the Israeli regime of Israel and that it has now reestablished its operations in Yemen, Houthi has explained that, now, the enemy uses a soft war to try to inflict raid on Yemen’s masses. In addition, the Secretary-General of the Ansar Allah movement in Yemen has said Israel’s illegal regime supports the fragmented group with a view to further deterioration within the Islamic world and ultimately break the bond between Muslims. He said, the devilish ideology of Baha’i intends to bring a blow to Islamic society.”

Abdullah Al Oulofy, the spokesperson for the Baha’i community of Sanaa, told The National, “We did not do anything to the Houthis. Peace is at the core of our beliefs, we call for peace, for love and harmony and we respect the law so what is our fault to be treated in such brutal manners.”

Journalist Ali Mahmood said that the Houthis have also launched a social media campaign against Baha’is.

The Yemeni Initiative for Defending Baha’i Rights, a human rights organization, said in a Facebook post that Al-Houthi’s incitement coincided with incitements against Ahmadis, Christians, intellectuals, scientists, and activists, as well as “a number of Islamic doctrines.”

This hate campaign comes two months after Yemeni Baha’i Hamed Haydara was sentenced to death. The expected date of execution is still unknown.

With Iran’s support, Houthis have persecuted Baha’is since their rise to power in 2014.

This is an ongoing story. More updates to follow if revealed.