Barran Press
On Monday, July 29, 2024, residents of Marib, Yemen, staged a protest demanding the immediate release of three men from the Al-Mahwit governorate who have been sentenced to death by the Houthi group. The protesters, who are family members of the detainees, condemned the Houthi group's decision as a "grave development" and a "blatant violation of international norms and conventions."
The protest statement, obtained by Barran Press, asserted that the death sentences, issued by a Houthi-controlled court in Sana'a on December 31, 2022, were the result of a "farcical political trial" that lacked any semblance of due process. The three men, who have been held captive since 2015, have endured "six years of continuous torture, both physical and psychological," leading to chronic illnesses and permanent disabilities.
The protesters accused the Houthis of weaponizing the judiciary for political revenge and extortion, calling the death sentences a "crime against justice and humanity." They warned the Houthi leadership against carrying out the executions, holding them fully responsible for the safety of the detainees. The protesters vowed to pursue justice for the men and hold accountable all those involved in their mistreatment, including the judges who presided over their trials.
The protesters called upon the Presidential Leadership Council, the Yemeni government, the United Nations, and the UN Envoy to take immediate action to secure the release of the detainees. They also urged the international community, human rights organizations, and the Supreme Judicial Council to intervene and ensure the safety of the detainees, demanding their unconditional release.
The protest comes after a Houthi-controlled appeals court upheld the death sentences against the three men, all teachers from Al-Mahwit governorate. They have been held captive since September 19, 2015, and identified as Ismail Abu al-Ghaith, Saghir Fare'a, and Abdulaziz al-Aqeili.
Rights Radar, a human rights organization, reported that since the Houthis seized control of Sana'a in September 2014, their courts have issued over 641 sentences, including 630 against men, 10 against women, and one against a child. Of these, 579 were death sentences, including six against women and one against a child. The remaining 62 sentences were for imprisonment, including four against women.
Rights Radar expressed deep concern about the safety of detainees held by the Houthis, emphasizing that the group's complete control over the judiciary puts the lives of these individuals at grave risk. The organization highlighted the Houthis' use of the judiciary as a tool for political elimination and moral suppression of their opponents, targeting anyone who refuses to align with their political and ideological agenda.