In a recent announcement made on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, Yemen's internationally recognized government's Ministry of Legal Affairs and Human Rights revealed that the Houthi group, a globally designated terrorist organization, has committed "unforgivable crimes" by unlawfully confiscating properties belonging to citizens and private sector entities.

The ministry's statement, relayed through the official Yemeni news agency Saba, accused the Houthi group of intensifying "assaults on private properties and instilling fear among the families of their adversaries," citing a reliable source.

According to the ministry, the number of private properties targeted has surged to approximately 1,237 estates since the Houthi coup against the state a decade ago. The statement cautioned against the "perilous nature of such arbitrary practices against citizens and their properties in the capital city of Sanaa and the areas forcefully controlled by the Houthis, with backing from the Iranian regime."

It further declared that the Houthi group's relentless campaign to seize citizens' properties and coerce them into selling or relinquishing their assets under duress constitutes grave and enduring crimes, devoid of any justifications based on symbolic and arbitrary judgments.

The ministry unequivocally held the group accountable for the harm inflicted upon citizens' welfare and the national economy, attributing it to their actions and severe human rights violations. Such actions were deemed detrimental to regional and international peace efforts and impede any potential relief to the humanitarian crisis faced by the Yemeni populace, as stated in the announcement.

The ministry urged citizens to steadfastly protect their material and economic rights steadfastly, advising against yielding under any circumstances, including real estate transactions involving fixed or movable assets. It emphasized that, in due time, these properties will be rightfully restored to their original owners under the constitution, national laws, and pertinent international treaties.

Additionally, the ministry appealed to citizens, judges, court officials, and notaries to refrain from engaging with court verdicts issued in regions under Houthi control.

Furthermore, it called for adherence to the necessary legal procedures regarding the classification of the Houthis as a "terrorist organization," dismissing judgments and decisions related to this matter as "politically motivated, lacking authority, and thus null and void."

Yesterday, the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate vehemently condemned the Houthi group's attempt to sell the confiscated residence of Nasr Taha Mustafa, the former head of the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate and an advisor to the Presidency.

In a strongly worded statement, the syndicate criticized the de facto authority in Sanaa for seizing the residence of Nasr Taha Mustafa, terming the move as a violation of all human and legal principles, devoid of recognition by any religion, tradition, or law.

The syndicate urged the Houthis in Sanaa to preserve Mustafa's house and personal property, considering any action taken against them as illegal and an outright disregard for fundamental human rights and legal norms.