Barran Press
Hodeidah, Yemen - In a disturbing display of intimidation, the Houthi group, designated a terrorist organization by many countries, has been accused of parading 11 kidnapped civilians around Hodeidah governorate. Social media erupted with outrage on Friday, May 10th, 2024, after a video emerged showing the forced march through public markets.
The footage, reviewed by Barran Press, depicts the recently abducted individuals – labeled "spies" by the Houthis for alleged collaboration with the US-led coalition in the Red Sea – being displayed under armed guard. The video shows bystanders forced to gather as Houthi fighters fire live ammunition in the air, creating a climate of fear.
Activists claim the group paraded the captives through several markets across Hodeidah, including Al-Durayhmi, Al-Nakhilah, Al-Taif, and Al-Mansuriyah. Additionally, photos of the kidnapped individuals were reportedly plastered on public roads, serving as a chilling message to potential dissenters.
This incident has sparked widespread condemnation online. Journalist Mohammed Al-Salihi, director of Barran Media, called it a "dangerous precedent" and another violation against the people of Tihama, the coastal region where Hodeidah is located.
Al-Salihi, writing on "X" platform, condemned the Houthis for forcing families to "dance on pictures" of their detained loved ones. He further charged that the Houthis had tortured the captives into making false confessions and aimed to "spread terror" through these tactics.
"The Houthi militia has forced citizens to dance on the images of the abducted," Journalist Isam Bulgheith wrote in his "X" platform post, highlighting the irony of the situation where people were compelled to celebrate while their fellow citizens remained held captive.
Sources close to the situation allege the Houthis prevented filming of the abducted individuals, only allowing footage of the coerced trampling on photos. These sources also reported visible signs of torture on the bodies of the captives.
Photojournalist Abdullah Al-Halabi, a native of Hodeidah, echoed concerns about the Houthis' motives. He described the public shaming and execution threats as a deliberate attempt to instill fear and silence opposition.
This incident follows the Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV announcing the arrest of the 11 young men on May 6th, accusing them of being part of a "spy ring" feeding information to the "American and Israeli enemy." The channel further claimed the network, dubbed "Force 400," was led by Ammar Saleh, brother of a Yemeni political figure.
The Houthis have a history of resorting to harsh measures. In September 2021, they executed nine civilians from Tihama on similar charges, including conspiracy to assassinate a former Houthi leader.
The recent events in Hodeidah raise serious concerns about the Houthi group's treatment of civilians and their disregard for human rights.
In September 2021, the Houthi group executed 9 civilians from Tihama on similar charges, in addition to conspiring to kill the former Houthi Political Council President, Saleh al-Sammad, who was killed in an air strike by the coalition in April 2018 during his visit to Hodeidah.
The incident caused widespread outrage among Yemenis at the time, as the execution included (Sheikh Ali al-Qawzi, Major General Abdulmalik Hamid, Muhammad Khaled Ali Haij, Muhammad al-Qawzi, Muhammad Nuh, Ibrahim Aqil, Muhammad al-Mashkhiri, Muadh Abbas, and the minor child Abdulaziz al-Aswad).