The Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights activist, Tawakkol Karman, confirmed that the years following the peaceful popular February youth revolution were the most beautiful ever in Yemen, had it not been for the coup of the Houthi militia and the West’s inaction.

In an interview with Reuters, Tawakkol Karman said: “After the revolution we lived three of the most beautiful years ever...we were days away from the referendum on the constitution and holding multiple elections”, holding the Houthi militia and the West’s inaction responsible for what followed.   

Karman urged new U.S. President Joe Biden to fulfil his commitment and his promises to end this war in Yemen and to halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia and its ally the UAE.

Reuters indicated in its report entitled “Yemen 'Arab Spring' unity torn asunder by hunger and war” that the Nobel Laureate was abroad when the Houthi militia took control of Sanaa and has not returned, noting that she is among the most critical of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia and the Saudi-led coalition as she believes both parties are repressing democratic change in the region.