YEMEN-SECURITY/HAJ-PROTEST Reports of Saudi decision to ban Yemenis from haj this year bring thousands of protesters to Sanaa streets
Record ID:
139977
YEMEN-SECURITY/HAJ-PROTEST Reports of Saudi decision to ban Yemenis from haj this year bring thousands of protesters to Sanaa streets
- Title: YEMEN-SECURITY/HAJ-PROTEST Reports of Saudi decision to ban Yemenis from haj this year bring thousands of protesters to Sanaa streets
- Date: 11th September 2015
- Summary: SANAA, YEMEN (SEPTEMBER 11, 2015) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) VARIOUS ARIEL VIEW OF PRO-HOUTHI PROTESTERS SHOUTING SLOGANS PROTESTERS HOLDING GATHERING HOLDING BANNER READING (Arabic): "The century of the devil, forbids the people of Yemen from performing haj." PRO-HOUTHI PROTESTERS THROW STONES AT POSTERS WITH PHOTOS OF U.S. PRESIDENT BARAK OBAMA, SAUDI KING SALMAN AND THE PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL BENJAMIN NETANYAHU VARIOUS OF PRO-HOUTHI PROTESTERS HOLDING GUNS, WEARING HAJ CLOTHS, WALKING AND SHOUTING SLOGANS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PRO HOUTHI SUPPORTER, SAYING: "We are coming, God willing, with out weapons to perform haj and visit all of the sacred sites." DEMONSTRATION (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUTHI REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE, MOHAMED ALI, SAYING: "All of these people reject and abhor these actions. The protesters are on their way to the places of honour and pride and will head to the fronts of jihad and fighting to prove to this arrogant enemy that all of his conspiracies will not break the resilience and determination and courage of this great nation." POSTERS OF LEADER OF HOUTHI ABDULMALIK AL- HOUTHI AND HIS BROTHER HUSSAIN AL-HOUTHI VARIOUS OF PRO-HOUTHI PROTESTERS HOLDING WEAPONS SHOUTING SLOGANS VARIOUS OF HOUTHI SECURITY
- Embargoed: 26th September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Yemen
- Country: Yemen
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAD3S5TKEEN8Q836P2BRJOP0DUQ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: PLEASE NOTE THIS EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
Thousands of mostly armed Houthis held a demonstration on Friday (September 11) after the reports of a decision taken by the Saudi government to disallow Yemenis from performing the haj pilgrimage this year.
The protesters gathered in Yemeni capital Sanaa chanted slogans against Saudi Arabia, the U.S. and Israel.
"We are coming, God willing, with out weapons to perform haj and visit all of the sacred sites," said one protester holding a machine gun in his hands and wearing haj cloths.
Haj is the huge annual Muslim journey of faith. Thousands of people travel to Mecca and other holy sites located in Saudi Arabia.
The reports of a decision to exclude Yemenis from pilgrimage this year angered the faithful.
"All of these people reject and abhor these actions. The protesters are on their way to the places of honour and pride and will head to the fronts of jihad and fighting to prove to this arrogant enemy that all of his conspiracies will not break the resilience and determination and courage of this great nation," said Chairman of the Houthi Revolutionary Committee, Mohamed Ali.
Saudi Arabia and other Arab states intervened in Yemen's civil war on March 26 to halt the nationwide spread of the Houthis, who captured Sanaa a year ago and forced the government into exile in Riyadh after advancing on its southern stronghold of Aden.
The Houthis, who hail from the Shi'ite Muslim Zaydi sect, consider their rise a revolution. But they are fiercely opposed by the Sunni Muslim Gulf Arab states who believe the group is bent on spreading Iranian influence. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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