SAM for Rights and Liberties said that the inciting statements made by Sheikh Abdulghani al-Omar, and published on the General Support page of the Nation Shield Forces, against Yemeni activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkol Karman, represent a dangerous development that requires an official investigation. The statements amount to incitement against a civilian figure because of her opinions and political positions.
SAM stressed that the danger of these statements lies not only in the fact that they were issued by a figure linked to a military formation, but also in the use of religious discourse to classify individuals and impose moral or religious judgments on them. This type of discourse does not merely attack an opinion; it moves political disagreement into a far more dangerous space, where the targeted person becomes subject to exclusion, demonization, or moral vilification, potentially threatening their safety, dignity, and right to public participation.
The organization said that, over the past years, Yemen has suffered from widespread inciting rhetoric that has poisoned the public sphere and, in many cases, paved the way for the targeting of political, media, and human rights figures, including the assassinations, assaults, and threats witnessed in Aden and elsewhere against activists, journalists, and civilian officials. In such a fragile context, incitement cannot be treated as a passing opinion, particularly when it is issued by individuals linked to armed formations or when religious language is used to criminalize political opponents.
SAM added that the use of religion in political disputes, especially by individuals linked to military formations or within activities affiliated with such forces, undermines the prospects for civil debate and turns political disagreement into a dangerous conflict tied to identity and moral judgment. It also raises serious questions about the nature of the role played by these formations, their future function, and the extent of their commitment to neutrality, the protection of civilians, and respect for rights and freedoms.
SAM emphasized that the Yemeni Constitution guarantees freedom of opinion and expression as a fundamental right of citizens. Yemen is also a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees freedom of expression while also prohibiting advocacy of national, racial, or religious hatred when it constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence. On this basis, the use of religious discourse to classify individuals or incite against them because of their opinions or political positions exceeds the limits of legitimate debate and undermines constitutional principles and international obligations that require the protection of political pluralism and the preservation of individuals’ dignity and security. The issuance of such rhetoric by figures linked to armed formations further increases its gravity and impact, and requires a serious investigation to determine responsibility and ensure accountability.
SAM called on the Yemeni government, the Public Prosecution, and the relevant authorities to open a serious and transparent investigation into these statements, and to hold accountable anyone proven to have been involved in incitement, threats, or the misuse of military status or platforms linked to armed formations. It also called on the leadership of Tariq Saleh’s forces to declare a clear position on these statements, take immediate measures to prevent their recurrence, and ensure that military platforms or religious discourse are not used to incite against individuals because of their opinions or political affiliations.
The organization affirmed that protecting civic space and the right of individuals to express their views without fear of threats or incitement is an essential condition for any serious political process, and a necessary requirement for building a state based on the rule of law and respect for rights and freedoms.