Title

Yemen: Rights Radar Calls on Houthi Militia to Stop Using Judiciary to Suppress Its Opponents and Confiscate Their Property, Urges UN Envoy for Immediate Intervention to Protect Victims

Amsterdam, July 28, 2024

The Rights Radar Organization for Human Rights based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, has called on the Houthi militia in Yemen to stop all trial proceedings – both in person and in absentia – targeting hundreds of civilians within its controlled areas. The organization confirmed that the indictments against these individuals were issued for illegal reasons and driven by political clear motives.

Recently, an indictment was issued against 105 individuals, primarily comprising the General Assembly of the Social Reform Society. This society, the largest charitable organization in Yemen, holds consultative membership in the United Nations and has a track record of over three decades dedicated to humanitarian and developmental efforts.

The ongoing issuance of such indictments by the Houthi militia, along with the resulting decisions and judgments, confirms a troubling reality: the Houthis employ the judiciary and prosecution as instruments for political purges and moral suppression of their opponents, targeting those who refuse to participate in their own political and ideological activities.

Moreover, these actions serve as both evidence and condemnation for individuals who misuse their judicial or security position to suppress their opponents.

In its statement, Rights Radar said, “We condemn all the repressive measures and express our deep concerns about the ongoing and potential deliberate recurrence of such actions against civilians who are essentially held hostage, deprived of means for protest and self-defense against the serious stereotyped charges that often result in imprisonment or execution.”

Rights Radar has emphasized that all decisions and judgments issued by the Specialized Criminal Court in Sana’a, controlled by the Houthis, lack legal validity because they were issued by an entity lacking constitutional and legal legitimacy. This is based on a decision issued by the Supreme Judicial Council of the internationally recognized government in April 2018, which abolished the Specialized Criminal Court under the Houthi authority and stipulated the transfer of the Specialized Criminal Court of First Instance and the Specialized Appeals Division from Sana’a to Ma’rib.

The issuance of such decisions raises significant concerns for the lives and safety of the abductees and prisoners detained by the Houthi which exercises complete control over the judiciary, putting the detainees at real risk.

These genuine concerns stem from a tragic incident in which the Houthi militia executed nine abducted victims from Al-Hodeidah Governorate in Tahrir Square, Sana’a, on September 18, 2021. Presently, there are at least 70 civilians on death row in Houthi prisons, including 12 teachers and three university professors.

Our sources on human rights and legal matters in Sana’a affirm that the majority, if not all, of those targeted by judicial judgements or decisions are victims of political stereotyping, facing baseless charges that often lead to execution, imprisonment, or confiscation of property. Consequently, they are deprived of the right to a fair defense according to Yemeni law.

Based on Rights Radar’s monitoring and documented data, from their control of Sana’a in September 2014 until July 2024, the judicial authorities affiliated with the Houthi militia issued more than 641 judgements of imprisonment and execution, including 630 men, 10 women and one child. There were 579 individuals who were sentenced to death, including six women and one child. Additionally, 62 individuals were sentenced to imprisonment, including four women.

The decision to refer the group of 105 individuals for trial and the subsequent indictment followed an unjust judgement in early June 2024 by the same illegitimate court. This court had previously sentenced 44 civilians to death on charges related to spying, a common accusation used to convict the opponents of the Houthi militia and the individuals who resist its policies.

In fact, the oppression and authoritarianism of Houthi militia have escalated to the extent that even text messages via SMS to residents in areas under its control threatening that anyone who does not participate in the militia’s marches will be considered as “sympathizing with alleged spy networks,” as indicated in one of the monitored messages.

Rights Radar urges the international human rights organizations and bodies to leverage their moral and legal influence across all levels to stop this horrible targeting of civilians in areas under Houthi control.

Furthermore, Rights Radar calls on the UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, to utilize his influence effectively in providing immediate protection for individuals facing trials in Houthi courts, and advocate for the dismissal of death sentences that pose a real threat to the lives and safety of the targeted victims.

Rights Radar praises the achievements of local and international endeavors and mediations that have resulted in saving the lives of 17 individuals previously sentenced to death. These individuals were released in exchange deals with the Houthis, including five journalists: Yahya Abdul Raqeeb Al-Jubaihi, Abdulkhaleq Omran, Tawfiq Al-Mansouri, Akram Al-Walidi, and Harith Hamid. Rights Radar expresses hope that these efforts will continue to be successful in saving the remaining individuals and ensuring their safety.