The Iran-backed Houthi group released Yemeni singer Khalil Farhan on Tuesday, after holding him for over two weeks in one of their prisons in Dhamar Governorate, central Yemen. His detention followed his performance of national songs and the national anthem at a wedding.

Singer Khalil Farhan announced his release in a post on his Facebook page, stating: "Today, I was released and we came out safely."

On May 1, 2025, the Yemeni Artists and Writers Forum reported the abduction of Khalil Farhan by the Houthi group after he performed national songs and the national anthem at a wedding.

In a statement followed by Barran Press, the forum explained that security elements affiliated with the Houthi group in Dhamar Governorate abducted the artist and had been arbitrarily detaining him since the previous Saturday.

The forum pointed out that the targeting of artists and intellectuals is part of an organized campaign by the Houthi group to obliterate the cultural and creative space in areas under their control and impose their unilateral vision by force, posing a direct threat to Yemen's cultural and artistic identity.