The Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Lund University in Sweden hosted Dr. Mohammed Al-Mahfali, Executive Director of INSAF Center for the Defending Freedoms & Minorities, to give a brief lecture on minorities in Yemen.
In his lecture, the researcher discussed brief reports on minorities in general, and then spoke in more detail about minorities in Yemen in terms of historical backgrounds, their presence and population distribution, their political, social and economic status, as well as the nature of the violence and violations experienced by these minorities, whether in the past or the present and with respect to the nature of violence currently practiced on some minorities and the negative impact of the war on them.
The lecture concluded with pointing out the importance of the Minorities issue, as it is a central issue in the Yemeni problem, and arguing that any solution to the current crisis should discuss the issue of minorities, given that the problem is primarily social in nature more than a political one. The political conflict and the ongoing war are merely a manifestation of this social problem of intolerance, hatred and lack of acceptance of others.
Al-Mahfali revealed the nature of the structure of violence against minorities and the association of the matter with power. Throughout history, this association has been proven whenever a minority was in power, where it committed violations against other religions it disagrees with and perpetrates the most horrific massacres against it.
He also focused on the social problem facing the marginalized society and the social injustice to which they are exposed, not only by the authorities or society but in many cases by other minority communities. This problem does not only affect this minority, but is reflected negatively on society in general.
During his lecture, Al-Mahfali appealed to the international community and international parties to apply pressure on the Houthi militia in order to implement its decision to pardon Hamid bin Haydara and his fellow Baha’i detainees, especially in light of the Corona pandemic that threatens their lives and puts them at risk.
The lecture was followed by a group of researchers and graduate students at the University of Lund, as well as researchers and civil society activists interested in minority affairs across the world.
