Taiz.. A stand by the mothers of the abductees, denouncing the Houthi kidnapping campaign against those celebrating the anniversary of the September 26 Revolution

On Thursday, the Association of Mothers of Abductees organized a protest in the city of Taiz, denouncing the widespread kidnapping campaign launched by the Houthi militias against civilians in a number of governorates of the republic against the backdrop of calls to celebrate the anniversary of the September 26 Revolution.

The association said in the statement of the vigil that it condemns the wide-scale kidnapping campaigns carried out by the Houthi group in several Yemeni governorates, including: “Ibb, Al Bayda, Al Hudaydah, Al Hawban in Taiz Governorate, and the capital Sana’a”; where dozens of civilians were kidnapped last week against the backdrop of calls to celebrate the anniversary of the September 26 Revolution.

The statement added that the increase in the number of kidnappings carried out by the Houthi group against civilians and the continuation of these violations constitute a blatant attack on human rights and a restriction on freedom of expression by gagging mouths.

He continued: "We, in the Abductees' Mothers Association, strongly condemn this ongoing behavior by the Houthis, which contradicts national values and principles and international and humanitarian laws, and we hold them fully responsible for the lives, safety and fate of our abducted children."

The statement called on the international community and all human rights organizations to intervene urgently and pressure to stop these violations, hold the perpetrators accountable, and release all abductees unconditionally.

In this context, he stressed that these repressive practices and ongoing violations must be stopped, and that their perpetrators must not escape punishment, and that freedom must be guaranteed for all abductees. Yemeni civilians have the right to freedom and life in all circumstances and conditions.

Protest stand by the Association of Mothers of Abductees in Taiz

| Report by Abdul Aziz Al-Dhabhani pic.twitter.com/2ApT4ynd2F

— Yemen Youth TV Channel (@TVyemenshabab) October 3, 2024

The stand came after a human rights symposium implemented by the association entitled: “Human Rights Defenders... Missing Voices”, in rejection of the repressive practices against those working in the field of human rights defense in Yemen.

At the symposium, Maher Al-Absi, a member of the National Committee to Investigate Allegations of Human Rights Violations, stressed that arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance are among the most common violations against human rights defenders without real charges and for political motives to silence opposing voices or prevent defenders from exposing human rights violations.

Al-Absi pointed out that the parties used threats, intimidation, defamation of defenders, and the creation of a hostile environment that gives society the impression that targeting them is legitimate.

In turn, Ali Sarhan, Director General of the Human Rights Office in Taiz, said that the internationally recognized government has not established any specific mechanisms or laws to protect defenders due to the country’s internal instability. However, it has issued statements condemning attacks against defenders and ratified international treaties that protect defenders.

He pointed out that Yemeni courts did not effectively protect human rights defenders from arbitrary detention and ill-treatment, as courts under the control of the Houthi group sentenced some defenders to prison because of their human rights work.