Minorities in Yemen

March 27, 2020

Marginalized

Who are the (the marginalized) Al-Muhamasheen? Al-Muhamasheen are a group within the Yemeni society that are often pejoratively referred to by the term al-Akhdam (the servants). This group has been systematically targeted and discriminated against more than any other…

March 27, 2020

Jews

Who are the Jews of Yemen? There are no historical documents that irrefutably define the nature of the presence of Jews in Yemen. However, Yemeni Jews (known also as Yemenites) have been an integral part of society, and are…

March 27, 2020

Baha’is

Who are the Baha’is? The Baha’is are followers of a religious community that believes in the Baha’i religion. The name comes from the founder of the Baha’i Faith, Hazrat Baha’u’llah. Despite the emergence of this religion in the mid-nineteenth century,…

March 27, 2020

Ismailis

Who are the Ismailis? Ismailis are the second largest Shiite Muslim group after the Twelver sect (Athnā‘ashariyyah). They have witnessed an eventful history dating back to the middle of the second century AH—the eighth century CE—during the formative period…

March 27, 2020

Christians

Christianity in Yemen—A Historical Background: The Byzantines were able to secure a foothold on the west coast of Yemen as early as 435–515. According to Philostorgius, Emperor Constantine I obtained permission from the Himyarite King Abu Karb As’ad Al-Kamil to…

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