Badr al-Din al-Houthi

religious leader

Badr al-Din al-Houthi (1926–2010) was a prominent Yemeni religious scholar and the founder of the Houthi movement, officially known as Ansar Allah. He played a crucial role in the revival of Zaydi Shia Islam in Yemen during the 1980s and 1990s, establishing educational institutions and promoting the Zaydi cause in response to the spread of Sunni fundamentalism from Saudi Arabia. His teachings and leadership laid the groundwork for the movement's later militarization and political aspirations, particularly following his son Hussein al-Houthi's emergence as a key figure in anti-government uprisings in the early 2000s. Badr al-Din's legacy continues to influence the Houthi movement, which has since evolved into a significant political and military force in Yemen.