The Houthi rebels abducted Yemen’s former minister of culture, Khaled Al Ruwaishan, from his home in the capital Sanaa on Sunday, sources said.
"Dozens of military vehicles carrying Houthi personnel were stationed around the neighbourhood where Mr Al Ruwaishan lives in the Beit Bous area of southern Sanaa at 3am on Sunday," a source told The National.
“After blocking the entry points to the neighbourhood they stormed the residence of the former minister and abducted him to an unknown place.
“I don’t know exactly why they took him, but I heard from a friend that they arrested him because he keeps criticising them and opposes their policies on Facebook.”
Yemen conflict analyst Nadwa Dawsari confirmed that the Iran-backed rebels abducted Mr Al Ruwaishan after he posted a poem on his Facebook page criticising them and their policies.
He also praised the province of Marib and the courage of its citizens who support the Yemeni government, which has been fighting the Houthis for five years.
"The Houthis have not snatched him before because they didn't want to antagonise his large and powerful tribe, the Khawlan tribe, which lives northern Sanaa," Ms Nadwa said.
“This is a sign of desperation that they would go after him. They are angry because they suffered a major military setback in Marib over the past few weeks."
The Yemeni government condemned the abduction and called on the rebels to immediately free the former minister.
“The abduction of Al Ruwaishan is a continuation of thousands of arrests of political and social figures, media, journalists and activists,” Muammar Al Eryani, the Yemen Minister of Information, wrote on Twitter.
"It reflects the criminal mentality of Houthis and their disregard of people’s lives, lack of acceptance of others, and rejection of any opposing voice and human rights in areas under its control."
The kidnapping sparked anger among the Khawlan tribe, which gathered in Al Sharza area in northern Sanaa on Sunday morning.
They called on the Houthi authorities to immediately free Mr Al Ruwaishan, threatening to retaliate.
He is a famous Yemeni poet and writer who served as a minister of culture under former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Mr Al Ruwaishan is a member of the Yemeni Shura Council under the internationally recognised government.
He stayed in Sanaa after the Houthis took over the city in late 2014.
