Barran Press
On November 13, 2024, the SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties released a comprehensive report detailing the Houthi group's crackdown on celebrations marking the 62nd anniversary of the September 26 Revolution. This campaign has targeted activists, journalists, educators, political leaders, and tribal chiefs who have called for or participated in the festivities.
Entitled "Retrospective Retaliation,", reviewed by Barran Press, the report highlights the Houthis' broader strategy to suppress freedom of expression and peaceful assembly as a means of controlling society and enforcing their authority. The organization noted that the Houthis maintain a consistent approach of arbitrary arrests and repression of freedoms, aiming to eliminate any dissent or criticism of their policies and to undermine any form of intellectual and political pluralism.
The report states that the Houthis perceive celebrations of the September Revolution as a challenge to their legitimacy, which they claim is derived from a political and religious framework linked to the imamate system that the revolution had overthrown.
According to SAM, the Houthi group is in blatant violation of Yemeni law and international law through its arbitrary detentions of individuals celebrating the September 26 Revolution, which occur without due legal process.
The organization described the detention conditions as harsh, noting that victims are held in facilities lacking basic human rights standards and are subjected to physical and psychological torture to force them to renounce their beliefs and provide coerced confessions.
Furthermore, the report asserts that the Houthis have used various pretexts to justify these arrests, such as accusations of inciting strife or threatening public security, although these justifications are often flimsy.
SAM also pointed out that the Houthis have extended their crackdown beyond domestic dissenters to include employees of embassies and UN agencies, indicating that their goal is not only to silence opposition but also to send a clear message to the international community about their complete control over the territories they govern.
The organization claims that the Houthis utilize arbitrary arrests as a tool to pressure local and international parties, enhancing their negotiating position in any political discussions and demonstrating their capacity to influence both domestic and foreign matters.
According to SAM, the arrests during the September 26 celebrations reflect a deep political, social, and cultural divide in Yemen, exacerbated by years of conflict over national identity, which has intensified since the Houthis took control of Sana'a and other regions.
The report warns that the systematic repression by the Houthis has stifled cultural freedoms and diminished discussions surrounding national identity and shared history among Yemenis, adversely impacting the potential for comprehensive national dialogue. It cautions that these arrests effectively undermine civil society's efforts.
SAM affirmed that such violations against civilians in Houthi-controlled areas will not be forgotten over time and that impunity for these acts will not persist. They called for accountability for perpetrators of these violations in both national and international courts.
The organization urged collaboration with human rights groups as a vital step in confronting Houthi abuses, enabling local activists to access technical support and necessary resources for effectively documenting violations. They emphasized the importance of documentation as a means of holding the Houthis accountable.
On October 16, 2024, a joint report from Human Rights Watch and the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies indicated that Houthi arrests related to protests began on September 21, affecting several provinces, including Sana'a, Amran, Dhamar, Ibb, Al Hodeidah, Al Mahwit, Taiz, Al Bayda, Al Dhale'e, and Hajjah. The report noted at least 209 arrests in Amran alone, including children and elderly individuals, with some detainees exceeding 75 years of age.
Amena Al-Qallali, the Director of Research at the Cairo Institute, stated that the repression of protests and any activities that contradict Houthi beliefs and ideologies represents another violation in the group’s long record of human rights abuses amid complete impunity.