The Saudi-Houthi Truce and the Hypocrisy of Organized Religion That Bedevils Humanity.

With the advent of Ramadan, the Saudi coalition that has incessantly caused havoc in Yemen has reached a truce with the Houthis who have surprisingly met them boot for boot in the conflict. The thousands of death and destruction were not good reasons enough to stop the war. Ramadan however provided one good reason for some period of peace--two months.

Yes, both sides are Muslims who 'must' adhere to the dictates of the Holy month of the religion. A truce would help ensure that, especially when the underdog (Houthi) have proven to have the capabilities to hit vital infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. Some few days ago, they hit an oil storage facility in the kingdom. Must adherents of the same religion only pursue peace when a religious festival is imminent?

The exhibition of such hypocrisy cut across major religions. In an occasion during the First World War, German and British soldiers had come face to face in the exchange of fire when Christmas approached. A truce was eventually reached to allow them celebrate the 'birth' of the "Prince of Peace"--Jesus Christ. The soldiers from the opposing sides exchanged pleasantries and wished each other well. The truce had ended when Christmas was over. They started shooting at each other again. Hypocritical!

Before that, some priests had openly "anointed" the weapons of their compatriots before battle, perhaps for a best kill of adherents of the same religion in other states. In fact, the birthing of the modern nation-state in 1648 was to mark the end of a brutal 30 year war fought between Protestants and Catholics in Europe.

Personally, I am not against secular theorists who have espoused the benefits of war. I have appreciated Clausewitz and Machiavelli as well as the some Eastern theorists. However, I find it baffling, hypocritical and deceptive when religions whose teachings and doctrines are overtly grounded in the advancement of peace and harmonious coexistence are doing the opposite with devastation.

Christians believe Jesus is the "Prince of Peace" and Muslims say Islam means "peace". Why then would the Eastern Orthodox Church justify the war in Ukraine? How is this Saudi led coalition against the Houthi Islam? Is it the case that some political actors use religion as facade to advance their political interests? I would prefer to answer these questions later in another piece. I would rather succinctly explain the religious difference between the ordinary Saudi soldier and a Houthi rebel in respect of religion.

The answer to this has to do with the division that arose after Prophet Mohammed (SAW) had kicked the bucket in 632 AD. Some had wanted his blood relations to succeed him. Others, apparently the majority, had opted for a successor who was not a blood relation of the Prophet. Eventually the latter group won. Abu Bakr therefore became the Caliph after the Prophet had died. The former group who supported Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet were known as partisans of Ali ( shi a tu Ali in Arabic). They are currently known as the Shiite or Shia.

The majority group became the Sunni. There is more to this story that may not be necessary for the purpose of this piece. Currently in the greater Middle East Region, the Shia are politically powerful in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. The rest are overwhelmingly controlled by Sunni. Oman has its own sect.

The Houthi predominantly practise a sub-sect of the Shiite sect known as Zaidyism. This is the reason Iran, (the self acclaimed leader of Shiite Islam) is reported to have supported the Houthis with armaments and technology that have significantly made them a force to reckon with. Saudi Arabia consider itself the leader of Sunni Islam. With its huge resources, it could gather other states to dislodge the Houthis. It did gather them; but the Houthis are still there.

The devastation that has been brought about because of this sect-influenced war is just unthinkable. Thousands of innocent children have died of starvation; thousands more have been killed directly by the conflict; and state building in Yemen, ( the poorest country in the Middle East) has stagnated. Despite all these, the war rages on. Interestingly, with Ramadan in sight some truce has been reached. This could not be the teaching of the Prophet!!!

By: Fidel Amakye Owusu.

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