A Yemeni army prisoner, Majid Mohammed Abadi, from the Sabr Al-Mawadem district in Taiz province (southwest of Yemen) has died in the custody of the Houthi rebels in Sanaa, his family confirmed on Sunday. Abbadi, a resident of Taiz province, had been held captive for five years and reportedly succumbed to torture.

According to human rights sources, the family received notification of Abbadi's death from the Houthis and were instructed to travel to Sanaa to collect his body. However, the family has refused to accept his remains until an independent investigation is conducted into his death and an autopsy is performed with the participation of experts.

The family alleges that Abadi was subjected to severe physical and psychological torture throughout his imprisonment. He was captured by the Houthis in the Kitaf district of Saada province five years ago while serving as a government soldier.

This is the third reported death of a prisoner in Houthi custody within the past three months. In May, the Red Crescent Association informed the family of Najib Hassan Ali Fare' of his death in detention. Fare', abducted from his home in Taiz province in 2017, had been held captive until his death, with reports of torture and enforced disappearance.

Judge Ishraq Al-Muqtari, a human rights activist and member of the National Committee for Investigating Human Rights Violations, highlighted the alarming trend of prisoner deaths in Houthi-controlled Sanaa. She expressed concern over the lack of accountability and transparency surrounding these deaths, calling for immediate action to ensure the safety and well-being of detainees.

The families of both Abadi and Fare are demanding a thorough investigation into their deaths and accountability for those responsible. They are also calling for the release of all remaining prisoners held by the Houthis. The international community is urged to condemn these alleged human rights violations and pressure the Houthis to uphold international standards for the treatment of prisoners.