Pakistani cleric Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi has described the Houthis as “terrorists” with “nothing to do with Islam”, while calling on Muslims and Pakistan to support Saudi Arabia amid its escalating conflict with the Yemen-based group. The remarks by Tahir Ashrafi Houthis came during a conference in Medina focused on countering ideological deviations.
Ashrafi, chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, made the comments at a two-day conference titled “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Efforts in Countering/Confronting Intellectual (Ideological) Deviations”.
Ashrafi calls Houthis enemies of Islam
According to Pakistan’s state-run Associated Press of Pakistan, Ashrafi accused the Iran-backed Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah, of targeting Saudi Arabia and said its actions had no connection with Islamic principles.
Referring to recent attacks and Saudi emergency warnings, Ashrafi called the Houthis “true enemies of Islam and the enemies of the Ummah”. He also accused the group of targeting civilians and rejecting Saudi assistance to Yemen.
Ashrafi further claimed that the Houthis had invoked Islam and Palestine while allegedly targeting Saudi interests. He argued that such actions did not represent genuine support for the Palestinian cause.
Pakistani cleric pledges support for Saudi Arabia
Ashrafi said Pakistan’s government, armed forces, religious scholars and population would stand “shoulder-to-shoulder” with Saudi Arabia. He framed opposition to the Kingdom as opposition to Muslims more broadly.
His comments come despite Pakistan’s government previously clarifying that its military role would be limited to protecting Saudi territory, rather than conducting offensive operations against the Houthis.
Ashrafi also called for action against groups that he said mislead young people in the name of Islam and jihad, including the Taliban, al-Qaida, ISIS and the Houthis.
The cleric recently faced controversy in the UK after the Archbishop of Canterbury withdrew a reconciliation award following the resurfacing of his 2007 remarks praising al-Qaida founder Osama bin Laden. He has also faced allegations concerning a group accused of exploiting blasphemy allegations, claims he has disputed.
The latest remarks come as tensions involving Saudi Arabia and the Houthis continue to escalate, while Houthi leaders have warned Pakistan and Turkey against directly entering the conflict.
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