Barran Press
The internationally recognized Yemeni government on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, condemned the Houthi militia's planned execution of three kidnapped educators from the governorate of Mahwit, following what the government called a "sham trial."
In a statement released by the official Yemeni News Agency (Saba), Yemeni Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Muammar Al-Eryani, identified the educators as Ismail Abu Al-Ghaith, Saghir Fare'a, and Abdul Aziz Al-Aqeili.
Al-Eryani accused the Houthis of issuing death sentences after nine years of kidnapping and enforced disappearance, during which the educators were subjected to psychological and physical torture and subjected to fabricated charges in a sham trial based on their political views and stances.
He stated that the Houthis' escalation of death sentences against their opponents, mirroring their masters in Tehran, is a blatant attempt to intimidate politicians, journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens in areas under their control, preventing them from speaking out against the current situation and demanding their right to live freely and with dignity.
Al-Eryani further revealed that human rights organizations have documented over 400 death sentences issued by the Houthis against government officials, security and military leaders, politicians, media personnel, journalists, and activists.
He emphasized that the Houthis' torture, abuse, and execution of kidnapped and forcibly disappeared individuals are crimes that do not expire and constitute a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.
He stated that these actions highlight the militia's insistence on escalating tensions and obstructing the efforts of brotherly and friendly countries to achieve peace and stability.
Al-Eryani urged the international community, the United Nations, its special envoy, and human rights organizations to condemn these criminal practices and take immediate action to pressure the Houthis to revoke the death sentences and release all kidnapped and forcibly detained individuals unconditionally. He also called for the cessation of the judiciary's use as a tool for political revenge, suppression, and the elimination of opponents, and for the militia to be classified as a global terrorist organization.
In a recent report, the human rights organization "Rights Radar" stated that the Houthi-controlled judiciary has issued over 641 sentences of imprisonment and execution since their takeover of Sana'a in September 2014.
According to the organization, these sentences included 630 men, 10 women, and one child, with 579 of them sentenced to death, including 6 women and one child, while 62 individuals, including 4 women, received prison sentences.
"Rights Radar" expressed serious concern for the lives and safety of those kidnapped and imprisoned by the Houthis, as they have complete control over the judiciary, putting the lives of detainees at real risk.
The international organization viewed the Houthis' continued issuance of such referrals and the resulting decisions and judgments as confirmation of their use of the judiciary and prosecution services as tools for political elimination and moral suppression of their opponents and anyone who refuses to participate in their political and ideological activities.