Child Recruitment, Torture, and Islamic Extremism
In the Name of Allah: What Life Under the Houthis is Really Like
A Reuters investigation reveals life under Houthi rule in northern Yemen: widespread fear, forced child recruitment, and manipulation of humanitarian aid. Despite presenting themselves as resistance fighters, the Houthis exploit billions in Western aid to strengthen their regime, leaving millions of civilians hungry, oppressed, and vulnerable.
The Houthis, ruling northern Yemen for over a decade, present themselves in the Arab world as heroic resistance against Israel and the United States. Their official slogan, “Allah Akbar, death to America, death to Israel, curse on the Jews, victory to Islam,” is chanted publicly, while billions in Western “humanitarian aid” are funneled into the Houthi war machine instead of reaching starving Yemeni civilians.
A recent Reuters investigation exposes the harsh realities under Houthi control: fear, hunger, and oppression. Aid is manipulated for control, and dissent is punished. Citizens are forced to attend pro-Houthi rallies, chant anti-Western slogans, and pay heavy taxes. Parents are coerced into sending children to military service, with those who refuse often left to starve.
Internal repression is rampant: thousands of detainees include aid workers, journalists, and UN personnel. Children as young as ten are indoctrinated and sent to the front lines, often beaten or imprisoned for resisting. Aid meant for civilians is diverted to loyalists and militants, echoing tactics seen in Gaza during wartime.
Despite presenting a veneer of regional resistance, the Houthi regime’s actions fuel suffering at home. Millions live in makeshift tents without electricity or water, surviving on one meager meal per day. International funding has dropped sharply since early 2024, partly due to U.S. policy cuts, but the Houthis continue exploiting humanitarian aid to consolidate power, recruit fighters, and spread anti-Western propaganda.
The humanitarian crisis and the regime’s abuses raise pressing questions about international support: How much of Western aid is strengthening control and fueling extremism, rather than saving lives?