The Yemeni Minister of Information, Muammar al-Eryani, has accused the Houthi rebels of exploiting the tragedy of forcibly disappeared individuals for political and media gain. Al-Eryani, speaking on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, stated that the Houthis are using the release of a limited number of abductees as a publicity stunt to cover up their ongoing practice of abducting and concealing thousands of civilians in their detention centers.

"The Houthis are exploiting forcibly disappeared individuals to mislead the local public opinion and the international community," al-Eryani said, adding that the group is using these releases to evade their obligations under the Stockholm Agreement, which calls for a comprehensive exchange of prisoners and abductees.

He highlighted the Houthi practice of abducting civilians from public spaces, including streets, checkpoints, homes, mosques, markets, and workplaces and holding them in secret detention centers without charges. Al-Eryani believes the Houthis' "unilateral humanitarian initiatives" are merely a smokescreen to conceal their crimes.

The Yemeni minister further accused the Houthis of abducting citizens based on their opinions, political affiliations, and criticism of the group's actions. He cited the recent abduction of dozens of citizens who celebrated the death of the Iranian president in a helicopter crash.

Al-Eryani's accusations come after the Houthi group released 100 prisoners and civilian abductees on Sunday, May 26, describing the move as a humanitarian gesture. However, Majed Fadhil, the spokesperson for the government negotiating delegation on prisoners and abductees, dismissed the release as a one-sided attempt to exploit the humanitarian issue for political gain.

"The release of any number of prisoners by the Houthis, under any name, does not absolve them of the crime of abduction, concealment, and torture," Fadhil stated, emphasizing that the Houthis remain criminals and violators of humanity.

Fadhil accused the Houthis of abducting people from various locations, including streets, mosques, universities, and roadsides, and then using their release as a publicity stunt. He stressed that the release of abductees does not erase the original crime of abduction and concealment, which he considers an ongoing offense.