Yemen Needs Deliberation, Prudence

Tehran, Sept 11, IRNA - ˈIran Dailyˈ on Thursday conducted an interview with University professor Ali Asqar Zargar on the ongoing crisis in the Yemini capital, Sanaˈa. Zargar explained the reasons behind the protests. The full text of the interview follows. Q: Three years have lapsed since the Yemeni people revolted against the dictatorial regime of Ali Abdullah Saleh, why have new protests rocked the country again? Zargar: Given the authoritarian and despotic political structure of Yemen, this country is undergoing political changes. Houthis, as the biggest non-Sunni group in the country, have not been involved in state organizations in the past 23 years in Yemen. After the surge of the wave of the Islamic Awakening (called Arab Spring by Western analysts), Yemen also joined the current. Houthi, as the strongest and the most organized religious group in Yemen, also organized protests against the dictatorial regime of Ali Abdullah Saleh and succeeded to topple the regime after several months of clashes. But, this was not the entire story. Since the beginning of the crisis in Yemen, Saudi forces have attacked Houthis in northern part of the country. Given the influence of Saudi Arabia in political affairs of Yemen and its opposition to Houthis, the new Yemeni government also has followed the policies of the former government. These developments led to the resumption of protests in Yemen. Houthis want to play a role in power in Yemen and argue that they have been denied their political and economic rights by the current and former regimes. Therefore they continue protests and want fundamental changes aimed at achieving social justice and equality for all groups in Yemen. What are the objectives of Arab and Western states in supporting the Yemeni government? Arab and Western states are worried about the political influence of Houthis because of their revolutionary thoughts and also because they are Shia Muslims. Saudis are also worried about protests and insecurity in Yemen because many Shias are living in border areas with Yemen. Saudis also believe that if Houthis come to power in Yemen, Sana’a will join the axis of Iran-Iraq-Syria-Lebanon. Therefore, Saudi Arabia wants to keep the current situation in the region by supporting the Yemeni government. Conservative Arab countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, consider any change in the region as a threat to their political future because their political systems are not open. Given the regional developments, what is your opinion about political future of Yemen? The unrest and instability will escalate in Yemen because of the fact that the situation in the Middle East is unstable. Today the Yemeni society is divided into two groups – supporters of the government and opponents of the government. Therefore control of power by one group would upset the other. Undoubtedly, if Houthis come to power, it will lead to foreign military intervention. Therefore the future of Yemen depends on realistic approach and deliberation of its leaders. Abdul-Malik al-Houthi should insist on eligible demands (of protesters) and put pressure on government to meet the demands. Yemeni elites should bear in mind that spread of violence and instability in the Middle East will pave the war for extremism and foreign intervention. They (protesters) should avoid of polarization of the society and institutionalize sharing of power between groups in a peaceful atmosphere./end