Yemen Monitor / Monitoring Unit / Exclusive:
Outrage continues to mount over the assassination of Sheikh Saleh Hantous by the Houthi group in Raymah Governorate, central Yemen.
For the seventh consecutive day, the hashtag “#Saleh_Hantous” has seen wide interaction across social media platforms, with participation from activists, political figures, and social leaders from all over the country.
Activists say Sheikh Hantous “hammered the final nail in the coffin” of the Houthi militia, asserting that the so-called Quranic movement no longer fools anyone. The only remaining truth, they say, is that the Houthis are enemies of the Quran and killers of its teachers.
Yemen Monitor observed a large number of angry posts, including one by Mustafa Sa’adeen, who condemned the besieging of civilians and targeting them in their homes as terrorism that defies all laws and customs.
He added that this is a daily practice of the group against Yemenis — Sheikh Hantous and his wife being only the latest victims.
Engineer Mubarak wrote:
“The leader of terrorism in Yemen, Abdulmalik Al-Houthi, bears full responsibility for the crime of killing the Quran teacher and righteous man Sheikh Saleh Hantous — murdered in front of his wife and elderly aunt. This crime has shaken the conscience of all Yemenis and Arabs.”
Journalist Yusuf Al-Qahmi commented:
“Many wrongly believed the Houthis only targeted the government and political parties. But their behavior over the past decade proves they treat every Yemeni as an enemy.”
He added:
“Even a humble worker is seen as a threat to their violent, oppressive, and deceitful rule.”
Political writer and analyst Abdullah Ismail argued that the assassination of martyr Saleh Hantous was a direct result of orders from the Houthi leader himself.
He stressed:
“This must be made clear to all. The group will likely stage some superficial security measures — arresting one or two scapegoats — under pressure from domestic and Arab public opinion, to contain the scandal. But it’s just theater.”
He continued:
“This crime is like the thousands carried out under direct orders from Abdulmalik Al-Houthi.”
In a related post, journalist Mohammed Al-Samie described Sheikh Hantous as a great hero whose cause will remain alive forever.
He wrote:
“He was an extraordinary man who resisted until his last breath. He proved that dignity is priceless, and that age is just a number for those with a noble purpose who refuse humiliation.”
He added:
“A 70-year-old man who cornered the Houthis with reason, wisdom, and values — while they surrounded him with force, weapons, and numbers. He died standing tall, delivering a rare lesson that caught the world’s attention.”
Lawyer Abdulmajid Sabrah concluded that the killing of Sheikh Saleh Hantous has had a much greater impact than the Houthis anticipated, triggering a backlash that has shifted public perception and reshaped narratives.
