Since the Iran-backed Houthi group overran Yemen's capital, Sana'a, on September 21, 2014, its residents have not tasted safety or peace. In addition to the daily life and livelihood challenges they face, they live in constant fear and anxiety, being potential targets for abduction and torture.

Over the past decade, the group has not stopped abducting Yemenis, taking them to its prisons that now fill cities and rural areas under its control.

Following the Iranian regime and its armed proxies in the region, the Houthis have strengthened their security grip in the areas they control by dividing them into security zones managed by supervisors with the help of spies who monitor citizens' movements and interactions, abducting them on mere suspicion.

Despite the halt in construction and development in the country, the Houthis have initiated a revolution in building prisons, walls, and cemeteries to accommodate the large numbers of abductees and the dead, turning Yemen's capital into a large prison reeking of death and fear.

A Large Prison

Fahmi Al-Zubairi, Director General of Human Rights in the Capital Secretariat, said that the number of prisons in Sana'a alone exceeds 150, distributed across all districts, with the largest number in the Al-Sabeen area, where the homes of opponents have been turned into secret prisons by the Houthi group.

Al-Zubairi told "Barran Press" that the Houthi group uses schools, facilities, mosques, and public institutions in all areas under its control as prisons to suppress and silence opponents of its sectarian project in Yemen.

Human rights reports indicate that the Houthis manage about 203 prisons, including 125 secret ones. In addition to secret prisons inside government institutions like military sites, there are others in civilian buildings such as ministries and public administrations, as well as the homes of opponents that have been confiscated and turned into private prisons.

Prisons as a Priority

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor stated that "establishing prisons is a priority with every expansion the Houthis undertake."

In its report "I Wished for Death," published in January 2021, the monitor noted that "the number of prisons increases in new areas" they control, explaining that they transfer prisoners from police stations to secret and unknown locations without judicial orders.

It confirmed that "large parts of the areas under Houthi control contain public and secret prisons and detention centers, where thousands of opponents and activists against the group are hidden and subjected to various forms of torture and serious violations."

Map of Prisons

According to the human rights monitor, "many Houthi prisons are located in unofficial and non-designated detention centers, including residential buildings, schools, and universities."

The monitor listed several main prisons in the Houthi-controlled governorates, including 11 central prisons in the governorates of Sana'a, Amran, Rada'a, Ibb, Al-Mahwit, Dhamar, Al-Hudaydah, Raymah, Taiz, Hajjah, and Saada.

In addition to the central prison, the monitor mentioned nine main prisons in Sana'a: Habra, Al-Olaya, Al-Muallem, Al-Thawra, Al-Hatarash, the war prison, the reserve prison, and the Sana'a Governorate Correctional Facility.

In Dhamar Governorate, it listed 14 prisons, including three main ones: Dhamar Central Prison, Political Security Prison, and Criminal Investigation Prison. Four police stations turned into prisons: Al-Wahda, Southern District, Al-Ghabra, and Eastern District. And seven secret prisons: Haran, Al-Shouna, Community College, Dhamar Sports Stadium, Al-Marda'a, Aishan Clinic, and Dhi Sahar Prison.

Thousands of Abductees

There is no comprehensive statistic on the number of abductees in Houthi prisons, but estimates indicate thousands, including women and children.

In 2023, the human rights organization "Rights Radar" documented the abduction of 510 civilians by the Houthis, including 48 children, five women, and 31 elderly people. It also documented the enforced disappearance of 60 others, including six children, seven women, and four elderly people. Additionally, it recorded the torture of 80 abductees, including four children, two women, and nine elderly people.

The organization, in its annual briefing, stated that these abductions targeted 99 influential social figures, 43 politicians, most of whom disappeared during the anniversary of the September 26 Revolution, and 59 who defended their lands and farms from organized looting by Houthi leaders.

Among them were also 71 workers abducted from their homes, roads, streets, and markets, 55 social activists, 34 traders and businessmen, 47 students, eight human rights activists, seven journalists, eight educators, seven doctors, academics, seven marginalized individuals, and three people with special needs.

Deplorable Conditions

Regarding the state of the prisons, human rights official Fahmi Al-Zubairi said, "They are deplorable, perhaps worse than what we saw in Syria." He added that they "do not meet the minimum standards and laws, lacking ventilation, basic services, and private facilities."

He added that "many prisoners die due to medical neglect, lack of doctors, and not being taken to hospitals," accusing the Houthis of "deliberately torturing abductees, injuring them in fatal places, and refusing to provide medical assistance, causing complications that lead to their deaths."

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor confirmed this, stating that all these prisons "do not meet the minimum international and national standards required in detention places regarding cleanliness, good ventilation, and providing necessary healthcare, in addition to severe shortages of water, electricity, and basic supplies."

It said that the "poor" health conditions in Houthi prisons posed a "significant danger to detainees suffering from serious health conditions, especially those with chronic and intractable diseases such as respiratory diseases and blood disorders."

The monitor mentioned other "serious" diseases inside the prisons, such as autoimmune hepatitis, kidney diseases, respiratory infections, cholera, allergies, and other contagious and infectious diseases.

Tragic Situation

The situation for detainees in Houthi-controlled prisons is described as "tragic" by human rights activist Fahmi al-Zubairy in a recent interview with Barran Press. He reported that detainees are subjected to the most horrific forms of torture, including mock executions, which the Houthis reportedly carry out extensively. "We have listened to dozens of victims who spoke about this systematic process," he stated.

Al-Zubairy detailed the methods employed by the Houthis, which include blindfolding detainees, reading them mock death sentences, and pointing guns at their heads or setting up fake gallows. He characterized these acts as "terrorism," equating them to actual executions in terms of their brutality.

The activist further highlighted various forms of torture inflicted on detainees, including electric shocks, flogging, waterboarding, and prolonged sleep deprivation. Many detainees are left with severe psychological issues and long-term disabilities, including paralysis. Al-Zubairy emphasized that women are also victims of these horrific crimes, suffering from abduction and torture.

Torture Leading to Death

Al-Zubairy revealed that there have been at least 400 reported cases of deaths under torture in the capital, Sana'a. He noted this figure only reflects documented cases and may not represent the full extent of the atrocities. Barran Press has independently verified over 140 deaths attributed to torture in Houthi prisons, corroborating findings from other human rights organizations.

A report by Rights Radar, titled "Yemen: Deaths Under Torture," published in February 2021, documented 271 cases of deaths resulting from torture, with 205 occurring in Houthi facilities. The report also identified 25 cases of death due to medical negligence, another form of torture.

Unreported Abuses

Al-Zubairy discussed unreported deaths, attributing them to families' fears of Houthi reprisals. He noted that the Houthis have resorted to extorting families, demanding payments for the release of bodies and coercing them into signing agreements that prevent them from seeking medical examinations or disclosing information to the media. "They only release the bodies for a fee, even when the victims have died from torture," he said.

He expressed astonishment at what he termed the "audacity" of the Houthis in committing these human rights violations, stating that it reflects a level of brutality unprecedented in history, further tarnishing the group's already dark reputation.

Diverse Forms of Torture

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor reported in January 2021 that the Houthis engage in "brutal violations" against thousands of detainees in both public and secret prisons. The report highlighted a range of physical and psychological torture methods, including severe beatings, prolonged suspension, and chemical burns, resulting in permanent injuries.

Rights Radar identified four primary objectives behind the torture: obtaining information, instilling fear, breaking the victims' spirits, and indoctrination. Al-Zubairy linked the Houthis' mass abductions to their fear of losing control, asserting that their oppressive tactics are a desperate measure to maintain power in the face of potential popular uprising.

As the plight of these detainees continues to unfold, the need for accountability and justice remains crucial in the ongoing struggle for human rights in Yemen.

Legitimacy Crisis: Houthi Abductions of Civilians

Human rights activist Fahmi al-Zubairy recently spoke to Barran Press about the motivations behind the Houthi militia's large-scale abductions of civilians, attributing them to a profound fear within the group. He stated that the Houthis lack political legitimacy, having risen to power through violence, which drives them to employ oppressive tactics to compensate for their insecurities.

Al-Zubairy emphasized that the group, classified as a terrorist organization, lives in constant fear of popular backlash. This anxiety leads them to abduct those who display national symbols, even as they themselves display Iranian flags and images of Khomeini and other regional militia leaders.

Cycle of Terror

The suffering of victims and their families begins immediately upon abduction. The Houthis frequently demonstrate excessive force, raiding neighborhoods with armored vehicles and armed men, instilling shock and terror among residents.

The Association of Mothers of the Abducted documented five violations during these abductions in their latest report, "Memory of Witnesses." These include nighttime home invasions, terrorizing children and women, and violence against victims' families. In addition to fear and intimidation, families endure anxiety about the fate of their loved ones due to restrictions on visits and communication. Some families have faced violence and detention as a way to instill fear.

Moreover, the Houthis have reportedly taken hostages to pressure others into surrendering, a practice condemned by the association as a violation of the principle that criminal responsibility is individual. The abductions also occur at workplaces and checkpoints under the pretext of suspicion.

Depths of Despair

Once in custody, detainees experience profound suffering, beginning with the denial of their existence in known prisons, forcing families to expend significant effort searching for their loved ones. The anguish intensifies with restrictions on visitation and communication, leading to a state of constant worry about the fate of their relatives, particularly when victims are hidden in undisclosed locations.

For detainees, the isolation from the outside world exacerbates their suffering, leaving them aware that their families have no knowledge of their whereabouts or whether they are alive.

Parallels to Syrian Atrocities

Fahmi al-Zubairy, director of human rights in the capital, compared the crimes committed by the Houthis against detainees over the past decade to the brutal actions of the Assad family against the Syrian people. He expressed disbelief at the Houthis' persistence in carrying out abductions and torture while witnessing the downfall of the Assad regime amid widespread public outcry.

Al-Zubairy asserted that the oppressive mentality and brutal nature of the Houthis mirror the practices of the Assad family, suggesting that the Houthis’ downfall will be swifter and more catastrophic. He underscored the resilience of the Yemeni people, asserting their capability to dismantle the militia.

In light of the Assad regime's collapse on December 8, 2024, revolutionaries and the general populace sought to liberate thousands of political prisoners, particularly from Saydnaya Prison, notorious for its extreme secrecy and brutal conditions.

Pursuit of Justice

Al-Zubairy vowed to hold all Houthi leaders accountable for the abduction and torture of Yemenis, from those who file false reports to the guards inflicting violence and humiliation. He noted the recent U.S. sanctions against Houthi leader Abdulqadir al-Murtadha and the group’s committee for prisoner affairs, viewing this as a preliminary step towards accountability.

He highlighted that numerous human rights organizations are tracking Houthi leaders implicated in torture and abduction, asserting that these "criminal" individuals are well-known among victims and will not escape punishment.

Al-Zubairy urged all victims and their families to report Houthi crimes, stressing the importance of documenting violations to pursue justice and hold perpetrators accountable.