Today, at noon local time, a seven-day ceasefire came into effect
in Yemen. The brief pause in fighting will allow aid to be delivered while the
warring parties meet in Switzerland for peace talks. Sadly, BBC News decided
not to cover it, instead focusing on Tim
Peake’s flight into space. Then again, perhaps it was fitting-a forgotten ceasefire
for a forgotten war. Though forgotten, since March, this civil war has claimed
over 5,800 lives and left at least 1.5 million internally displaced. While the
world’s attention is still on Syria, charities operating in the country are now
describing Yemen as the “world’s largest humanitarian crisis.” This post will briefly outline the current
state of the crisis before looking at its impact on Christians in the country.
Yemen has long been an unstable country. In 2000, Al-Qaeda
became increasingly active in the country. Four years later, followers of
dissident cleric Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi began an insurgency that has yet to
come to an end. The conflict entered a new stage with President Saleh’s
resignation in the wake of anti-government protests in 2011. Despite attempts
at negotiating a peace agreement, the crisis continued. The insurgency making
gains while the government grew weaker. Last September, Houthi rebels captured
the capital, Sa’ana, driving the western-backed government southwards to Aden.
The civil war has left Yemen divided. Houthi rebels control much of the north-west
while Alqaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) are present throughout the east
of the country. The Aden Government rules only the southwestern tip of the
country.
Like Syria, this domestic conflict has hints of a proxy war.
While Iran supports the rebels, a Saudi-led coalition is carrying out
airstrikes on behalf of the exiled government in Aden. Amnesty International
has documented human rights abuses and war crimes on both sides of the conflict.
The use of cluster bombs by the coalition forces is particularly worrying given
the fact that both the US and the UK have provided them with key logistical
support. To add to the chaos, IS launched its first attacks in the country this
year.
So where do Christians fit into this complicated picture? Out
of a population of around 25 million, just shy of 20,000 people identify as
Christians. Like everyone else they have found themselves in a midst of a
humanitarian crisis that has left four out of five people dependent on foreign
aid. But Christians in Yemen face particular challenges, with Open Doors ranking
the country’s Christian community as the 14th most persecuted in the
world.
Even before the latest escalation in the conflict, it was
difficult to be a Christian in Yemen. It is estimated that there are just a few
hundred indigenous Christians in Yemen, with most Christians having moved to
Yemen to find work. Evangelism is banned while leaving Islam is punishable by
death. Tribal structures are deeply important in Yemen and so the government
rarely intervenes in tribal persecution of converts. Last year, one woman was
burnt alive by her relatives after she converted to Christianity. The small
number of Christians still left in the government-controlled region still face
these risks. Coalition air strikes are sometimes indiscriminate, meaning that churches
have been destroyed by bombing.
For those living under Houthi control, the risks are greater
still. The Houthi rebels are completely intolerant of any religious dissent. They
have repeatedly attacked Islamic schools and universities that do not follow
the Houthi’s narrow sect of Shia Islam. Jews have been ordered to convert or
leave the country. As a result of this religious suppression, Christians have
been forced to worship underground in Houthi-held regions. Militants from Al Qaeda
in the Arabian Peninsula are also present in many of the contested areas of the
country. In the past, AQAP have been linked to killings and kidnappings of
Christians. Understandably, the chaos makes it difficult for stories of
persecution to leave the country. However, over the last few months, there has
been at least one report of a convert to Christianity being murdered by AQAP
militants.
There are many things to pray for in Yemen. Of course, we
should pray that the peace talks in Switzerland will lay the foundation for a
permanent ceasefire. Aid also needs to get through to the people who need it.
We should pray that those who are persecuted would remain faithful and would
shun revenge. Christians in the country can be a real light to Muslims in need.
But we should also remember that God will build his Church despite the dire
situation it seems to find itself in.
References
http://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/stories/yemen_150417.php
http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Houthis-to-Jews-convert-or-leave-Yemen-422604
