Barran Press
The internationally recognized Yemeni government has condemned the detention of several leaders and members of the General People's Congress (GPC) party in the Houthi-controlled capital Sana'a, accusing the group of targeting those who called for celebrating the 26th September Revolution anniversary.
Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani reported on Friday, September 20th, 2024, that the Houthis, designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, had arrested six individuals, including three tribal chiefs.
The detained individuals were identified as Sheikh Fahad bin Amin Mohammed Aburas, Sheikh Amin Rajih, Sheikh Ali Thabet Harmal, Dr. Saeed Al-Ghali, Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ashari, and Naif Al-Najjar.
Al-Eryani denounced the Houthi crackdown, describing it as a "dangerous escalation" following a similar wave of arrests targeting journalists, media professionals, and civil society activists. He cited the detention of Raddad Al-Hadhfi and Sahar Al-Kholani, along with the summoning and interrogation of social media activists for their calls to celebrate the revolution's anniversary.
The minister accused the Houthis of threatening these individuals with "liquidation, detention, and torture." He asserted that the Houthi escalation in repression and intimidation in areas under their control aimed to "terrorize activists and media professionals, preventing them from conveying the truth to the public and deterring them from advocating for the people's issues and demands."
Al-Eryani called upon the international community, the United Nations, the UN envoy, and human rights organizations to condemn these "criminal practices," pressure the Houthis to immediately and unconditionally release all detainees held due to their political and media activities, and initiate the process of designating the group as a global terrorist organization.