Yahya Al-Dailami Suspected Houthi Spiritual Leader:

”The existing Hashimis are the ones who established the republican system and set its pillars so how can they revolt against it.”

Following the eruption of war in Sa'ada between authority and the Believing Youth Organization (BYO) led by Hussein Badr Addin Al-Houthi on June 18, 2004, things got worse. The official campaign was associated with a similar one from some religious streams active in Yemen like the Salafis as head of Salafi Forum Magazine Hasan Abdullah Al-Hashadi believes that BYO is a Shiite movement modeled after Hezbollah Party in Lebanon in all aspects whether politically, economically, socially, culturally or religiously though its followers claim to be Zaidis. Their contact with Iran and Hezbollah prove their propensity to the Twelfthers.

This accusation was accompanied with similar accusations by official authorities as some Zaidi scholars were prosecuted including scholar Yahya Al-Dailimi and suspected Houthi spiritual leader, who adamantly persists on his Zaidi spirit.

Yemen Post reporter Hasan Al-Zaidi interviewed him for the first time since he was sentenced to death, and the ruling was reduced later to ineffective ten years due to the ceasefire agreement between both warring sides.

Yemen Post: Is the ruling against you still effective?

Yahya Al-Dailimi: Yes, it is.  

YP: How do you see the reduction of term from capital punishment to a ten-year term?

YD: I do not know exactly; however, this move was prompted by civil activities including demonstrations, sit-ins and petition letters scholars sent to President Saleh as well as requests by international organizations to abate the ruling.

YP: What is your personal stance of the ruling?

YD: It is a politicized one and it aims to signal a message to those who oppose the ruling system and I think it was made because of my demanding political forces to stage peaceful sit-ins in protest against Sa'ada war.  

YP: How do you see the ongoing war there?

YD: There have been different mediation efforts, committees and proposals aiming to make a ceasefire agreement; however, all attempts were thwarted by parties who do not want it to end as it is of benefit to them. 

YP: Like who?

YD: I cannot name. They are mysterious forces.

YP: But who is the loser?

YD: Yemen is the loser and it will lose 100 percent, because Sa'ada locals and soldiers are Yemeni and the same applies to wasted resources. The war devastates  society's security and stability.  

YP: Still some parties believe that Iran is involved in supporting the resurrection?

YD: Iran is busy with its own problems and strategies. Further, there is no motive for Iran to support a group in a remote country like Yemen.  

YP: Do you still believe in the Zaidi doctrine and call for its principles?

YD: Yes. Zaidi doctrine is based on rationality and drives its teachings from Quran. It gives more attention to man at all aspects. It is also built on diligence and justice. Imam Zaid came out one day and found a lady searching food in garbage. He said to her that this made me come out to help people, and he later revolted for the wronged and hungry people.  

YP: Do not you see that your ideas are facing a fierce campaign?

YD: This is right and I do not know the reasons for that despite the fact that it contained all doctrines.  

YP: But you are accused of being Shiites and Twelfthers?

YD: This is an invalid accusation.

YP: Did you have freedom to spread Zaidism before Sa'ada war?

YD: There had been small activity following the reunification of Yemen and by then some books and manuscripts were printed, but things turned later to become as they were in the past especially after the followers of Zaidi doctrine were accused of being Shiites.

YP: But from where did Zaidi movement receive support and finance?

YD: What kind of support are you speaking of? We used to print our publications in commercial printing houses and we do not distribute our books for free. Further, we do not have universities, branches or headquarters. We have no support at all. I have a center beside my mosque which is an old house where we teach for some hours, and then it closes to receive ladies later. We teach for six hours and students have to buy everything.  

YP: Still, you have other centers like Badr Center?

YD: Badr Center was built under private support of businessmen and some women who donated gold and money; however, it is a humble center when compared to other centers.

YP: Does this mean that Zaidi doctrine is going to die out?

YD: Impossible. The Zaidi doctrine drives its force from within itself. It has been present in Yemen for long and it will come the day in which the reformers in the Islamic world feel that Zaidi doctrine has helped people of all trends as it is built on diligence and calls for Islamic unity, diversity, etc.  

YP: Returning back to the ruling against you, who do you think stopped its implementation and don't you fear its activation?

YD: It could be activated any time and President Saleh is the one who stopped it.

 YP: How were you treated in prison?

YD: Like other prisoners. I was kept in a room with doors shut all the time and deprived of rights.

YP: How long did you remain there and how do you see it?

YD: I remained there for two years and I feel I was wronged because I only called for stopping bloodshed under national motivations.

YP: But you were convicted of spying for Iran?

YD: They have no evidence of me being a spy, and spying is the task of military men and not that of preachers. These are false accusations to play with people's feelings.

YP: Don't you think that these accusations have minimized your activities?

YD: I am continuing my own work and teaching but the number of students decreased because of fear.

YP: Do you see any attachment of Shiites in the Zaidi doctrine?

YD: I do not think so. There are a few numbers of Ismaili Shiites in Yemen.

YP: But most of those arrested are perverted Zaidis?

YD: Most, if not all, arrested youth are Zaidis and they were detained in Sa'ada, Dhamar, Hajjah, Al-Hodeidah and Sana'a prisons.

YP: How many do you estimate them to be?

YD: About 3,000.

YP: What are the reasons of detention?

YD: There is no reason for their detention and it is a violation of law and international traditions. For sure, the youth enters the prison with nothing in mind and comes out with intention to revenge himself against the wrong he was subjected to.

YP: It is said that you were planning to overthrow the regime?

YD: This is funny.

YP: Did not Hashimis think of overthrowing the regime?

YD: Hashimis are the center of power and the regime depends on many personalities, so how can you revolt against yourself?

YP: Still some say that these personalities could support such a move and you are the ones who planned it?

YD: This is untrue and it is known to anyone with knowledge about Yemeni politics.

YP: Do Hashimis pose any danger to the republican system?

YD: The existing Hashimis are the ones who established the republican system and set its pillars so how can they revolt against it?