Barran Press
The Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by the international community, released Judge Abdulwahab Qatran on Wednesday after five months of detention.
Qatran's son announced his father's release on Facebook, seen by Barran Press, stating, "My father, the free hero, was released this afternoon without surrendering any of the confiscated items." He added that his father's accounts remain inaccessible due to confiscated phones, expressing gratitude for the support from those who campaigned for his release.
Judge Qatran was initially a supporter of the Houthis in Sana'a, backing their takeover of the capital in 2014. However, in recent years, he adopted a critical stance against the group, drawing harsh criticism from Houthi activists.
In January, the Houthis abducted Qatran following his tweets criticizing their attacks on ships in the Red Sea. The group initially justified the abduction by claiming he was caught consuming alcohol.
After 40 days of detention, the Houthis removed Qatran's judicial immunity and referred him to the specialized criminal court, which ultimately ordered his release.
While initially accusing Qatran of "alcohol possession," the Houthis later retracted the charge, accusing him instead of "spreading rumors, disseminating false news, and inciting against the group's leadership."
Houthi activists had previously threatened to silence Qatran after his posts criticizing their Red Sea attacks and implicitly targeting the Houthi leader.
In posts addressed to the Houthi leader hours before his abduction, Qatran stated, "Enough with the bravado and flexing your muscles... The Yemeni people, 30 million, haven't authorized you to fight America. Fight hunger, poverty, ignorance, disease, begging, and destitution. May God bless you."
He added, "Fight corruption, injustice in your courts, departments, ministries, and prisons. Fight racism in the performance of your state, your group, and your faction that has devoured everything."