Houthis raising money in Yemen through blackmail

Amira al-Sharif

The Iran-backed Houthi militia has started imposing taxes on imported goods under the pretext of collecting the financial resources necessary for the response to Covid-19.

The militia has also imposed taxes on dozens of restaurants usually frequented by poor Yemenis, according to media reports.

They said the Houthis raid the restaurants and force their owners to pay the taxes.

The Houthis also asked the owners to get operation permissions amid reports that the militia would enlist the restaurants as tourist facilities.

The restaurant owners say the new taxes come at a time they are incapable of meeting their basic needs, including the payment of rents and feeding their families.

They express fears that the Houthi may shut down their businesses if they fail in paying the taxes.

One of the owners said the Houthis keep going to the restaurants to demand money from their owners.

They demand the money, he said, in return for giving the owners operation licenses.

The Houthis succeeded in raising 3 trillion Yemeni riyals from taxes they imposed on people in Yemeni capital Sana’a and other cities, according to some estimates.

The militia opened three bank accounts previously and asked their supporters to donate money for these accounts in order to use this money in the Covid-19 response.

Some observers say, meanwhile, that the Houthis have been trying to be empowered economically since overrunning most of Yemen.

They do this, they said, by extorting money from traders and businessmen who do not support them.