Cairo: A prominent cleric linked to Yemen’s Iran-aligned Al Houthi militia has prohibited people living in rebel-controlled areas from marrying government loyalists.

Al Houthis have plunged Yemen in a devastating war since they deposed the internationally recognised government and seized parts of the country, including the capital Sana’a, in late 2014.

Last year, the extremists installed Shams Al Deen Bin Sharaf as mufti for the war-racked country.

He issued a fatwa this week banning people living in the rebel areas from marrying off their daughters and sisters to what he branded as “mercenaries” in the government-ruled areas.

“This is considered treason. He who does so should be punished,” the cleric said in a tweet.

The contested fatwa was declared days after Al Houthi militiamen at a security checkpoint attacked a procession for two girls from the rebel-held province of Hajjah in north-western Yemen, who were on their way to marry men living in the government-ruled province of Ma’rib in the east, Yemeni news portal Barakish Net reported Monday.

The militants punished the two girls by shaving their hair, an act that provoked outrage because it violated tribal traditions that prohibit assaults on women, according to the report.