If the United States is serious about peace in Yemen, it is essential to designate the Yemeni Congregation for Reform (YCR), also called Islah, which the Muslim Brotherhood recognizes as its official branch in Yemen, wrote Michael Rubin in National Security Journal
Rubin added “Its (YCR) senior leaders support both Hamas and Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Not only the United States but also the United Nations have blacklisted Islah leader Sheikh Abd al-Majid al-Zindani, a close associate of Al Qaeda founder Usama Bin Laden, for his support to Hamas and Al-Qaeda. In December 2016, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Al-Hasan Ali Ali Abkar, the head of Islah’s al-Jawf provincial branch, for “providing financial and material support to or in support of AQAP as well as acting for or on behalf of AQAP.” The following year, the U.S. government sanctioned Khalid Ali al-Arada, a member of Islah’s leadership council, for being an Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula member. Rather than condemn Al-Arada, Islah doubled down and criticized his designation as a “provocation.”
In October 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Yemeni businessman and Islah figure Hamid al-Ahmar as a “prominent international supporter of Hamas.” Hamid is the son of Sheikh Abdullah bin Husayn al-Ahmar, the former speaker of Yemen’s parliament, and a founder of Yemeni Islah. Al- Hamid today sits in exile in Turkey, where he works to coordinate Muslim Brotherhood parliamentarians worldwide.
Meanwhile. while the West and most Arab states reacted to the October 7, 2023 massacres in Israel with revulsion, Islah celebrated, with its Yemeni branch saluting Palestinian “resistance” and endorsing its “armed struggle” not only against Israel but also against the West more broadly.
Rubin suggested that “While the United States rightly targets the Houthis for their terrorism as the group launches its missiles and drones in solidarity with Hamas, it partners with Yemeni Islah by virtue of recognizing them as part of the Yemeni government. U.S. regional allies are right to question Washington’s seriousness as it empowers an Al Qaeda ally. The National Democratic Institute has even worked to expand Islah presence in South Yemen, the only stable part of the country.
Rubin concluded “Diplomats may worry that designating Yemeni Islah could destabilize Yemen, but this is foolish. Empowering an Al Qaeda front will not bring stability or peace to Yemen; it will only guarantee its continued failure. Yemeni Islah is as much a terrorist group as Hamas and the Houthis; it is time to treat it as such and signal to all Yemenis that the international community will stand with Yemenis against all extremists, no matter their tribe or sect.