The September 21 Revolution: A Liberation Achievement and a Refined Ethical Performance
The September 21 Revolution marked a pivotal moment in Yemen’s history and a purely national liberation achievement forged by the Yemeni people through their free will, independent of any external guardianship or foreign dependency.
This revolution was not merely a political movement; it was a comprehensive popular project that embodied the authenticity of Yemenis and their independent will, reshaping the people’s relationship with themselves, with their nation, and with the world.
The Leader’s Address: The Revolution’s Authenticity and Ethical Conduct
In his speech marking the eleventh anniversary of the revolution, Sayyed Abdul-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi affirmed that the September 21 Revolution was the product of popular awareness and sincere sacrifices, launched through a purely Yemeni decision without any external allegiance.
He noted that the Yemeni people financed the revolution themselves through popular convoys and relied on God in its course, making self-reliance one of the key factors behind its success.
He added: “Our people’s reliance on God and trust in Him, followed by their effort, generosity, sacrifices, determination, and awareness of the importance of what they were undertaking, was the decisive factor that produced this great outcome and major achievement.”
The Leader also stressed that the revolution maintained a high ethical standard, witnessing neither political nor personal purges, nor descending into violence or injustice. From the moment of victory, it sought to achieve security and stability for all citizens without discrimination.
A Revolution of Liberation from External Guardianship
The September 21 Revolution was not simply a change of leadership; it was a comprehensive national liberation that ended American dominance imposed on Yemen through dependent local instruments.
Before the revolution, the U.S. ambassador exercised control over political, economic, security, and sovereign decision-making in a manner that served American interests at the expense of Yemen’s sovereignty and the dignity of its people. The revolution restored Yemen’s freedom and sovereign decision, dismantled the equation of dependency, broke foreign hegemony, and proved that conscious popular will—when aligned with wise leadership—is capable of achieving major accomplishments.
A Qur’anic Project and an Inclusive Popular Identity
The revolution emerged from a clear Qur’anic vision that made the Holy Qur’an its intellectual and ethical reference and the compass guiding its movement in politics, society, and state-building. It was not the revolution of a faction, party, or region; rather, Yemenis from diverse social and cultural backgrounds participated, granting it broad popular depth and shielding it from fragmentation or collapse.
This vision established a revolution of values and ethics as much as a political one, restoring the primacy of justice and responsibility and linking change to awareness and comprehensive reform—far removed from chaos or revenge.
A Revolution without External Funding
At a time when many revolutions became tied to foreign intervention and external financing, the September 21 Revolution stood as a rare exception. It relied on its own capabilities, protected itself independently, and drew strength from the unity between leadership and people.
Despite wars and conspiracies waged against it, the revolution remained steadfast, preserved its course, and achieved cumulative gains—affirming that the strength of national will is the true guarantee for sustaining achievements.
Firm Positions and Just Causes
The revolution did not confine itself to domestic affairs; it embraced the concerns of the wider nation and placed the Palestinian cause at the forefront of its priorities. Consequently, Yemen—despite blockade and aggression—became a formidable factor in the equation of struggle against the Zionist enemy and a source of inspiration for free people worldwide.
Domestically, the revolution succeeded in uniting the people behind a faithful, principled leadership and a Qur’anic methodology, restoring and consolidating Yemen’s faith-based identity through confronting aggression and blockade and building state institutions.
Popular Will Shapes the Future
The September 21 Revolution is not a fleeting event in Yemen’s history; it is an integrated liberation project that reshaped Yemen’s relationship with itself and its nation, entrenched a unifying faith-based identity, and demonstrated that conscious popular will—when coupled with values and ethics—can bring about profound transformations and build an independent future, distant from exclusion and revenge, and close to justice, dignity, and freedom.