12/14/2021 Yemen (International Christian Concern) – Religious minorities have agreed to form a representative council to defend their religious freedom rights and equal citizenship, according to Asharq Al-Awsat, a Saudi-backed newsgroup. The council is said to include eight representatives, including four women, from Christian, Baha’i and Jewish faith backgrounds.

The formation of the group is to protect the religious minorities from abuse at the hands of Iranian-backed Houthi militias. Christians and other religious and ethnic minorities have faced deportation from Yemen, along with the closure of houses of worship. The Coordinating Council for Religious and Ethnic Minorities in Yemen will reportedly be officially announced soon. The council seeks to promote tolerance and coexistence in order to unify dialogue on human rights, civil, political and national issues.

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