Sana’a – Houthi Gov't have intensified their crackdown on public expressions of support for the 26 September Revolution, branding those who commemorate its 63rd anniversary as “traitors and foreign agents.” 

The move has sparked outrage among citizens and activists who view the revolution as a symbol of national liberation and republican values.

In recent days, local sources in Sana’a and other Houthi-controlled areas reported arrests, intimidation campaigns, and the removal of flags and posters associated with the 1962 revolution that ended the Imamate rule in North Yemen. 

Houthi-aligned media outlets have described the celebrations as “provocations” and accused participants of serving external agendas.

The escalation comes amid deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Houthi-held territories, where millions of Yemenis face acute shortages of food, medicine, and fuel. 

Critics argue that the suppression of national commemorations reflects the group’s broader efforts to erase republican identity and consolidate ideological control.

“This is not just about banning a celebration—it’s about rewriting history and criminalizing patriotism,” said a civil society activist in Sana’a who requested anonymity for security reasons. 

“People are struggling to survive, and yet even their right to remember a pivotal moment in Yemen’s history is being denied.”

The 26 September Revolution remains a cornerstone of Yemen’s modern identity, particularly in government-held areas where official ceremonies and public rallies have marked the occasion. 

In contrast, Houthi authorities have increasingly promoted alternative narratives rooted in Zaydi religious heritage and anti-Western rhetoric.