Barran Press
The internationally recognized human rights organization SAM for Rights and Freedoms has condemned a recent ruling by a Houthi-controlled court in Sana'a, sentencing kidnapped Yemeni woman Hanan Shoua Hassan Al-Muntaser to 13 years in prison.
According to a statement released by SAM on Tuesday, August 20th, 2024, monitored by "Barran Press", the Houthi-controlled Court of Appeal issued the verdict on June 15th, 2024. Al-Muntaser was convicted on charges of "aiding the aggression" and "collusion" with the Arab coalition supporting the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
SAM described the ruling as a "flagrant violation of human rights in Yemen," calling it "shameful and an insult to justice." The organization, headquartered in Geneva, demanded the immediate release of Al-Muntaser and the annulment of the verdict.
"The international community's failure to take decisive action against the Houthis and its disregard for this issue has emboldened human rights violators, creating a sense of impunity," SAM stated. "This leaves victims in Yemen feeling abandoned and justice as a distant dream."
The organization further condemned the Houthi's use of torture and arbitrary detention, calling it a "grave crime that blatantly contradicts national and international human rights laws." SAM emphasized that ignoring these violations not only represents a failure to uphold justice but also encourages their repetition and perpetuation.
SAM urged the Houthis to immediately release Al-Muntaser, restore her dignity by returning her stolen property, and compensate her for all damages. The organization also called for the prosecution of all individuals involved in her torture and the guarantee of her full legal rights.
SAM also appealed to international organizations to exert maximum pressure on the Houthis to secure Al-Muntaser's immediate release and ensure her full rights. The organization stressed the need for intensified monitoring of Houthi violations to protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable.
Al-Muntaser, a 45-year-old mother of five, including a disabled child, was the sole provider for her family. She was kidnapped from her home in Sana'a on July 3rd, 2019, by Houthi forces. According to SAM, Al-Muntaser was subjected to beatings, threats of electric shocks, and gagging before being imprisoned. She has been held in detention for over five years under appalling conditions that violate her basic human rights.
SAM's statement highlighted that since 2015, the organization has documented numerous violations against Yemeni women on charges of "collusion with the aggression." The organization has also recorded over 500 death sentences issued by the Specialized Criminal Court in Sana'a on similar charges. These sentences have been handed down to journalists, human rights defenders, political opponents, social figures, women, and members of religious minorities. All of them have faced unfair trials on fabricated charges and been deprived of their fundamental right to a fair trial.
SAM concluded its statement by emphasizing that the Houthis employ a policy of falsely accusing innocent civilians of "collusion with the aggression" and "providing coordinates" to exploit these charges in arbitrary trials targeting individuals from the community.