Shortly after seizing control of the Hays district on the West Coast, Houthi militias have initiated their first steps to impose a system of taxes and levies on residents, signaling their characteristic governance style focused on financial extraction rather than public services.
Local residents reported that the Houthi militia has occupied a building in Hays city, displaying a banner for what they term the Zakat Authority office. This entity is used by the group to enforce various financial collections from citizens, farmers, shop owners, and businesses, under different religious and administrative pretenses, including the collection known as "Khums" (one-fifth).
Residents and activists view the swift establishment of this office, concurrent with the group tightening its grip on the district, as indicative of taxation being a primary agenda item for the Houthis. This occurs while the populace awaits the restoration of basic services and improvement of their livelihoods, which have been severely impacted by years of conflict.
Activist Abdullah Al-Attash described the appearance of the Zakat office as a "political and moral scandal," arguing that the group has prioritized revenue collection over repairing infrastructure, restoring services, or addressing the war's aftermath. He stated that this move sends a clear message about the nature of the Houthi project in the areas they control.
Al-Attash further asserted that Zakat, in the Houthi interpretation, has transformed from an act of worship based on solidarity and justice into a tool for imposing levies. He questioned the purpose of a new authority arriving in an exhausted region without providing services or alleviating war burdens, only to immediately seek money from citizens' pockets.
Similarly, activist Salim Al-Ahdal noted that key actions by the group upon capturing new territories include "collecting taxes, hanging banners, and printing slogans," alongside replacing mosque imams, altering curricula, and arresting dissenting voices. This is seen by activists as a comprehensive strategy to consolidate control over society.
Activist Sami Al-Attas sarcastically questioned the haste in opening the Zakat office, asking why the priority is not given to the needs of the population and essential services, particularly in areas suffering from severe economic and service deterioration. He suggested that the group might expand its financial and administrative offices to other districts on the West Coast.
Activist Abu Rowan Al-Haddad criticized what he termed the rapid imposition of taxes, stating that the group allowed residents very little time before initiating collections referred to as "Khums, Suds, the Imam's due, and the Prophet's birthday due." He warned that these collections would further burden citizens and merchants already facing difficult economic conditions.
Dr. Ammar Al-Bukhaity indicated that the conversion of the Hays security administration into the so-called Zakat Authority, as reported in his publication, reflects the nature of the system the group is implementing. He believes the Houthis are using these levies to finance their military and political agenda at the expense of the populace.
The emergence of the Zakat Authority office in Hays comes as residents anticipate the return of basic services and an improvement in their living conditions. This revives the issue of Houthi taxation, which constitutes one of the group's most significant funding sources, especially given the various labels used to collect money from traders, farmers, professionals, and citizens.
Activists warn that the transfer of this system to other districts on the West Coast means residents may face, in addition to the war's consequences, a new network of religiously and administratively disguised fees and levies, thereby transforming military control into a means of economic and social subjugation of the local population.
