Barran Press
Amnesty International demanded on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, the immediate release of Yemeni education expert and trainer Mujib Al-Makhlafi, who has been “arbitrarily” detained by the Houthi group since October 10, 2023, in Sana'a.
In an urgent appeal, seen by "Barran Press," the organization stated that Al-Makhlafi has faced “numerous human rights violations” since his arrest.
These violations include “enforced disappearance, detention incommunicado, and denial of the right to contact a lawyer.” He has also been held in solitary confinement for over three months, an act that constitutes mistreatment and may amount to torture, according to the international organization.
Amnesty International emphasized the need for “the immediate release of Mujib Al-Makhlafi,” stating that “his detention is unjust, and the violations against him must end now.”
On October 10, 2023, the Houthi group detained Al-Makhlafi “arbitrarily” after 24 years of service in the Ministry of Education in Sana'a. His work involved training school staff on children's rights, peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and nonviolent communication.
According to Amnesty International, “his detention constitutes a violation of Yemeni law and international human rights agreements, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”
In March 2024, Al-Makhlafi's family became increasingly concerned about his deteriorating health. Reports indicated that he suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure, conditions requiring appropriate medical care. The organization noted that “detainees in Houthi-run facilities often face harsh conditions and are deprived of adequate healthcare,” raising serious concerns about Al-Makhlafi’s safety during his detention.
On June 10, 2024, Houthi authorities announced the “discovery” of an alleged espionage network. Since then, they have broadcast a series of videos on the Houthi-run Al-Masirah channel, which included coerced confessions from detainees.
Al-Makhlafi appeared in one of these videos on September 1, 2024, where Amnesty International stated he was falsely accused of being “part of a plot to undermine the education sector in Yemen.” The organization added that he was coerced into “confessing” to being part of what was described as an “espionage network” targeting Yemen's education sector. If convicted of espionage, Al-Makhlafi could face the death penalty.
Amnesty International documented “similar cases of persecution, where espionage charges have been used to silence journalists, human rights defenders, and political opponents through unfair trials.”
Since July, the Houthi group has launched a widespread campaign of arrests targeting dozens of employees from international organizations and agencies operating in areas under their control, including women and their children. Concurrently, they have released video recordings purportedly showing confessions of espionage from more than ten employees, viewed by rights activists as an attempt to cover up the crime.
The group has rejected all international and UN calls for the release of the detained employees, while human rights sources claim they continue their abduction campaign, disregarding local and international appeals for their release.