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Views on war in Yemen differ among Yemeni-Americans, Arab-Americans
Last month, two intense rallies by Yemeni Americans and others were held outside the Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn over the war in Yemen.
Both featured the waving of flags, emotional speeches and passion about the conflict in a country where thousands in metro Detroit have roots.
But the views expressed were quite different: While the first one attacked Saudi Arabia and was sympathetic toward the Houthi rebels, the second one was more supportive of Saudi Arabia and said the Houthis were terrorists.
The clashing views reflect a split among Yemeni Americans and other Arab-American and Muslim-American groups in Michigan. Some of the divide is along sectarian lines: Shias generally are more supportive of Houthis (who are Shia) and against Saudi Arabia, while Sunnis are generally more supportive of Saudi Arabia and its allies. Saudi Arabia accuses the Houthis of being supported by Iran, whose leadership is Shia.
At the first rally, on April 5, Yemeni Americans who support the Houthis railed against Saudi Arabia, saying its attacks were harming Yemen. The rally also included Shia clerics in metro Detroit of Iraqi and Iranian descent, and Lebanese-American Shias.
Related: Yemeni-Americans want rescue from war-torn country
“The Saudis are destroying everything in Yemen, the entire infrastructure,” said Wali Altahif, of Dearborn, a Yemeni American who took part in the April 5th rally.
The viewpoints expressed at a rally at the same location, on April 25th, were the opposite. Some held up Saudi Arabia’s flag, showing support for the country’s actions against the Houthis. Participants also waved American and Yemeni flags and displayed a big banner that read “Houthis = Terrorists.”
“The Houthis killed Yemeni people,” said Mahmoud Ali, of Dearborn, at the April 25 rally against the Houthi attacks. He wore a T-shirt that read: said: “I (heart) Yemen.”
“We’re all supporting Saudi Arabia.”
Despite the differing views, both sides agree the U.S. should do more to help evacuate Yemeni Americans trapped in Yemen.
Contact Niraj Warikoo: 313-223-4792, nwarikoo@freepress.com or on Twitter @nwarikoo
Source: www.freep.com