Human Rights Watch accused on Sunday the Iran-backed Houthi group of repressing civil society and endangering humanitarian aid. The Houthis have detained dozens, including UN staff, since May 2024, and their obstruction has worsened the cholera outbreak in Yemen. The organization urges governments and the UN to pressure the Houthis to release all arbitrarily detained individuals.
Nico Jafarnia, a researcher on Yemen and Bahrain at Human Rights Watch, highlighted the hypocrisy of the Houthis, who claim to support Palestinians facing Israeli oppression while simultaneously persecuting Yemeni civil society.
The Houthis have detained dozens, including UN staff, since May 2024, and their obstruction has worsened the cholera outbreak in Yemen.