Yemeni Religious Body Criticizes al-Azhar Call for Ceasefire
Yemeni religious authorities have criticized al-Azhar's call for a ceasefire in Yemen, framing the conflict as an armed militia coup rather than a standard interstate war.
Yemeni religious authorities have criticized recent remarks by Egypt's Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Ahmed al-Tayeb, who called for a ceasefire and the establishment of an Arab-Islamic mediation committee regarding the conflict in Yemen.
In a response issued on Tuesday, the Yemeni body emphasized that the situation is not a conventional conflict between two nations, but rather an armed coup executed by a militia against state institutions and legal legitimacy. The remarks followed statements by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who pledged support to Saudi Arabia amidst escalating tensions while noting he awaits a parliamentary mandate.
The Yemeni council detailed extensive violations committed by the Houthi movement, including arbitrary arrests, torture, landmine deployment, and the siege of Taiz province, urging international actors not to allow truces to legitimize the coup.
