News - Yemen: Academic writer and researcher Abdulmalik Issa said the unprecedented crowds that filled the squares of the capital Sana’a and other Yemeni provinces during the celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday amounted to an “open popular referendum,” reflecting broad support for the country’s political and military leadership.

He noted that at least 15 million Yemenis participated in the events, describing the turnout as “extraordinary” and proof of “true legitimacy derived from the will of the people, not from external powers or international resolutions.”

Issa stressed that the mass rallies demonstrated clear national consensus and unity under what he called the “inspired Qur’anic leadership,” embodied by Sayyed Abdulmalik Badr al-Din al-Houthi and the Supreme Political Council led by President Mahdi al-Mashat. He said this wide popular participation expressed full support for the Yemeni Armed Forces and rejection of attempts to distort the country’s image.

The scholar criticized Arab and foreign media outlets for what he described as deliberate disregard of the mass rallies, blaming US and Israeli influence over global media for a campaign of blackout. He argued that the images from the streets of Yemen serve as a practical response to hostile propaganda, undermining narratives aimed at dividing Yemenis.

He concluded that the Yemeni people have “made their choice” by affirming their “faith-based identity,” urging journalists and influencers to present an accurate picture of events in Yemen, free from political pressure or foreign agendas.

The Prophet’s birthday is one of Yemen’s largest annual religious commemorations, drawing millions to public squares in San’a and other provinces. Authorities in Sana’a view the rallies as both a religious and political statement, underscoring popular support for the leadership and reinforcing solidarity with regional causes, particularly Palestine, amid continued foreign aggression and media campaigns against Yemen.