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The parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security has confirmed Ansar Allah, commonly known as the Houthi movement, is appropriately listed as a terrorist organisation.
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The parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security (PJCIS) has published a review of the listing of Ansar Allah as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code. The report examined the listing of Ansar Allah as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code for the first time.
The committee concluded that it is satisfied that the appropriate process has been followed and that Ansar Allah meets the definition of a terrorist organisation. “Ansar Allah, commonly known as the Houthi movement, is a violent extremist organisation based in Yemen, which has conducted numerous violent attacks against Yemeni government forces and civilians,” according to the PJCIS.
“In addition, Ansar Allah has targeted foreign states and recently attacked numerous foreign-owned vessels passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait between the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.”
Specifically, the organisation is directly engaged in preparing, planning assisting in or fostering the doing of a terrorist act.
“The committee agrees that in the interest of protecting national and global security, it is appropriate to list Ansar Allah as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code,” chair of the committee Peter Khalil said.
Earlier this year, the Houthi rebels were officially designated as a terrorist organisation by the US State Department after attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea.
US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken and the US Department of State announced the designation of Ansar Allah, commonly referred to as the Houthis, as a specially designated global terrorist group, effective 30 days from 17 January.
Ansar Allah was designated for having committed or attempted to commit acts of terrorism that threaten the security of United States nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States, under the Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorists, terrorist organisations, leaders of terrorist groups, and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism.
Since November last year, the Houthis have attacked international commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, as well as the military forces sent to defend them.
“These attacks against international shipping have endangered mariners, disrupted the free flow of commerce, and interfered with navigational rights and freedoms,” the US State Department said at that time.
“This designation seeks to promote accountability for the group’s terrorist activities. If the Houthis cease their attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the United States will re-evaluate this designation.
“The Houthis must be held accountable for their actions, but it should not be at the expense of Yemeni civilians. As the Department of State moves forward with this designation, we are taking significant steps to mitigate any adverse impacts this designation may have on the people of Yemen.”
