Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram apps are seen on a smartphone in this illustration taken, July 13, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
03-08-2023 at 5 PM Aden Time
Aden (South24)
Twitter, Facebook and YouTube closed more than 30 accounts belonging to the Iran-backed Houthi militia during the past weeks.
The closure targeted the Houthi satellite channels on YouTube, and their "War Media Center" as well as the channel of the Houthi singer Issa Al-laith.
The number of closed channels on YouTube alone has reached about 22 since the beginning of last July. It also closed a number of accounts, estimated at 8 on Twitter and Facebook.
YouTube shut down Al-Masirah TV, the Houthis' main channel. Twitter and Facebook also closed accounts similar to the Houthi war media and religious pages.
On Tuesday, the Houthi Media Center condemned the closure of these accounts and channels. They stated that the step came despite the absence of any violation of the standards of these platforms and without any prior warning.
The media center called on Houthi supporters to boycott Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. The statement accused the United States of trying to silence the voices of Yemenis and confiscating freedom of opinion.
On the other hand, the internationally recognized Yemeni government welcomed these steps.
Yemeni Minister of Information Muammar Al-Eryani said: "We welcome the response of YouTube, Facebook and Twitter to the Yemeni government, and the closure of a number of pages affiliated with the Houthi militia."
South24 Center