Two Students killed in Dar al-Hadith by Followers of Al-Houthi.
- Dammaj, Yemen

Just like the last round of sad news, it seems two foreign Stuents of Knowledge were killed in Yemen.

The following is my brief translation of this Arabic Article published yesterday. I came across it last night.

According to official sources, two foreign students --on of them of French nationality-- were killed today in an attack on students of the Dar al-Hadith institute in the village of Dammaj. This attack, the first of it's kind, was carried out by followers of al-Houthi, a local Shiitie Rebel Leader.

According to some local Yemeni websites:

• The encounter took place when some of al-Houthi's followers attacked a group of students from the Salafi institute.
• The students "were standing guard, which was a newly enforced measure" after the Government had reportedly "armed them and a groupd of students from the Salafi institute to confront the followers of al-Houti."
• The encounter took place "during the passing of a patrol of al-Houthi's followers in the area".
  

Some sources in San`aa', close to the Administration of the institute reaffirmed, "The Institute commonly stays under tight security measures." He also negated the "possibility of suporters of the Institute taking part in any armed confrontation with al-Houthi's followers in the Sa`dah region." Saying, "Our task is one of Da`wah (Islamic Propagation), not a Military one. We don't take part in any armed struggle against that Rafidhi (Shiite) Rebellion which is present in the villages around the city of Sa`dah." The source also mentioned his sorrow on hearing news of the institute in Dammaj coming under armed attack. He went on to say, "The Institute was established by Shaikh Muqbil bin Haadee al-Waadi`ee --rahimahullah (may Allah have mercy on him)-- more than two decades ago and the people of the area have never known it to be anything other than a peaceful institution which calls to Allah through speech and intellect. Leaving 'Da`wah by hand' (using forecul measures) to the Authorities."

He added that, "Despite the fact that Shaikh Muqbil and his followers would openly call to Allah and denouncing Shirk (Polytheism), Bid`ah (Innovation in religious matters) and Rafdh (Being of Shiite methodology), the School has never been associated with any armed encounter." He then reaffirmed that, "The Center will continue the task of Shaikh Muqbil by defending the Sunnah (teachings of Prophet Muhammad) and defense of the Companions of the Prophet --sallallaahi `alaihi wa sallam (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)-- and the correct teachings of Islam, regardless of how many attempts there are to hamper it."

The source, who asked to remain anonymous, also fiercely refuted the notion that al-Houthi's followers conceal hatred for the Salafi Da`wah."
He found it strange that, "Some people are trying to make this a sectarian conflict. This (al-Houthi's followers) is an oppressive group that has rebelled against the Government. It is the Government, now, who strives to execute its authority in the region, keen on the service of its citizens", as he put it.

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May Allah have mercy on our brothers and allow the Government to find those Rafidhi filth and take them to account for what they did.

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Update (March 31, 2007): According to Reuters and the AFP, it seems the other casualty was a British brother. The authorities seemed to have named him "Patrick" only. Thee was a French-Algerian brother that was wounded. According to multiple news sources, the were standing security during the night, protecting the school.

Update (April 3, 2007): One of my Yemeni classmates said that there was a call mde from a brother in Dammaj stating that the actual persons killed were one French and one Yemeni student. There were three students wounded, one of them was a French-Algerian.

I will be posting another post insha Allah on some of the details learned after the incident.