Mon Mar 11, 2019 11:10
Yousef Mawry: Ansarallah Following Path of Third Shia Imam, “Never to Humiliation”
TEHRAN (FNA)- Yousef Mawry, Yemeni Journalist and Filmmaker, says, Ansarallah “was founded upon the Islamic principles enacted by Imam Hussain ibn Ali”, saying Imam Hussain’s reply “never to humiliation” is a motto that Ansarallah lives by today.

Commenting on the lack of response from the world body to the atrocities carried out by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, Yousef Mawry said, “Saudi Arabia is America’s watchdog in the region… to check and dismantle any nations or group that poses strategic threat to the ancient hegemonic power structure.”

“As long as you are pushing America’s agenda in the region, International humanitarian law will not apply to you.”

Yousef Mawry is a Yemeni Journalist and filmmaker who has been covering the war in Yemen since it started. He was the first reporter on the ground to expose the use of US laser-guided missiles by Saudi Arabia in civilian areas. He has filed reports and produced documentaries which helped direct world attention on the dire humanitarian crises due to the Saudi-led coalition offensive in Yemen.

Below is the full text of the interview:

Q: How does the Saudi-led coalition claim its raids are consistent with international humanitarian law, while thousands of civilian Yemenis have been killed by such air raids?

A: Clearly Saudi Arabia has committed many war crimes which violate international humanitarian law. The clearest example of this is the Saudi airstrike that killed 45 children on a school bus. Did the UN or US take any meaningful actions to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for this? No. International humanitarian law is only a tool used by the world elite to entrap or condemn nations, groups or leaders who are not subservient to the colonial western political agenda. In point blank, the US and the United Nations view Saudi Arabia as one of their strongest allies in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is America’s watchdog in the region. Its job is to check and dismantle any nation or group that poses strategic threat to the ancient hegemonic power structure. As long as you are pushing America’s agenda in the region, international humanitarian law will not apply to you. On the other hand, when the Houthis launch a missile into Saudi Arabia or when Hamas or Hizbollah in Lebanon fire a rocket into Israel, the international community condemns the act as a violation of international laws of war. Saudi Arabia is getting away with war crimes in Yemen because it understands very well it can and will get away with it.

Q: Why is the world ignorant about Yemeni civilians killed by the Saudi-led coalition equipped with weapons manufactured by the West?

A: The double standard here is the Houthis are constantly being accused and condemned by the West for using “Iranian weapons” in the war. Every time the Houthis fire a rocket into a Saudi military base, Saudi Arabia and western powers claim that Iran supplied the Houthis with those weapons without there actually being any proof. Thanks to US President Donald Trump, I think the world is now becoming more aware of the fact that the weapons being used to kill civilians in Yemen are US and British made. Donald Trump admitted on live television that the US government is selling 110 billion dollars worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia. Whether the world knows or not, US-made weapons are killing innocent Yemenis, the US and the UK are not going to stop their arms trade with Saudi Arabia. America is making billions of dollars in profit in the arms trade and also equipping their allies with highly advanced weapons to fight their enemies.

Q: Considering around 5 years of war, added to six other wars the Ansarallah of Yemen has fought against the forces of former Yemeni President Ali Abdallah Saleh, do you believe the word “surrender” could be found in Ansarallah’s lexicon?

A: Surrender does exist in Ansarallah’s lexicon. However, to Ansarallah that word only exists or is mentioned when it is used in the sentence “we will never surrender”. Surrender is simply not an option to movement. According to the Houthis their entire struggle was founded upon the Islamic principles enacted by Imam Hussain ibn Ali (AS) in the battle of Karbela where he was martyred by the army of the tyrant Yazid. Before Imam Hussain (AS) was martyred, his enemies gave him the option to surrender. Imam Hussain (AS)’s reply is a motto that Ansarallah lives by today, “Hayhat minna dhilla” which translates to “never to humiliation.” Ansarallah views surrendering as the ultimate disgrace. In a TV address to the Saudi-led coalition, Ansarallah leader, Sayyid Abdal Malik al-Houthi, made his position clear on the matter of surrendering when he said,“by Allah it is more beloved and honored for us to transform into small particles of dust in the air before we ever surrender to these cowards.”

Q: The recent peace talks indicate that Riyadh has come to this conclusion that it can never win the war on Yemen. In case a political solution leads to a sustainable truce, what future would you see for the Houthi Ansarallah movement?

A: The Houthis will continue to strive to rid Yemen of all types of foreign meddling, while concurrently striving to build a stronger Yemeni economy, Yemeni army and air defense system. Therefore, Ansarallah should make sure they do not sign any peace deal that compromises the unity of Yemen and the prosperity of the economy and army. Still, Saudi Arabia and the West will continue to plot and scheme against them through many avenues. One of the avenues will come from the South, where separatists are hell bent on breaking from the North and declaring an independent Southern state. Another issue will be the Island of Socotra which is now under UAE control. Abu Dhabi has no plans to relinquish control of the Island which poses a huge threat to the stability of Yemen. I believe the US and Saudi Arabia will push for an agreement that will aim to establish a decentralized federal system in Yemen, which in return could divide the country into 4 to 7 Yemeni regions or an independent South to ensure a pro-Saudi entity remains a player on the ground. I think all UN-backed peace deals will insidiously maneuver to limit the military advancement of Ansarallah to prevent them from obtaining fighter jets which could be used to conduct airstrikes on any occupying force in Yemen. The future of Yemen and Ansarallah will be based on the conditions of the truce agreement. Unless the Houthis or the pro-Houthi government become a regional power, the long arm of colonial powers will continue to interfere in Yemen. Due to Yemen’s geostrategic importance, whoever controls the country will have the ability to tip over the scale of power in the region.





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