Organization: Houthi militias kidnapped about 500 people, including journalists and writers, due to national holiday celebrations

The organization condemned the arrest of journalists, lawyers and human rights defenders. This repressive behavior is a flagrant violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms guaranteed internationally, including the right to freedom of the press, thought and expression, which is guaranteed by local and international laws. Among these charters is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, in Article 19, “Freedom of information and access to information feed into the broader development goal of empowering people.”

She said that she had monitored the arrest of more than 433 civilians by the Houthi group in 10 Yemeni governorates until the evening of September 27, through reports published on social media by the families of the detainees. Among the detainees were journalist Mohammed Al-Mayahy, journalist Mohammed Al-Sahbani, Abdulrahman Daghar, Fouad Al-Nahari, Ahmed Saleh Al-Jabali, Mohammed Al-Khatib, in addition to other journalists and writers, who were arrested based on their writings on their Facebook pages, which were quickly deleted immediately after their arrest.

The arrests were not limited to journalists and writers, as the group arrested faculty members at Hodeidah University and Ibb University, as well as a number of university students. The arrest campaign also included teachers in schools in Amran Governorate, north of Yemen. It is also disturbing what was reported about serious violations against children, as children as young as six years old were arrested, in clear violation of all international conventions that protect children’s rights.

The arrest campaign also targeted a number of lawyers in the governorates under Houthi control. According to the Yemeni Bar Association, more than 10 lawyers have been arrested since September 21, including Abdul Raqib Al-Saddar, Mansour Al-Badji, Maher Al-Shaibani, Akram Al-Masni, Jamil Al-Qudsi, and Ali Al-Dhaifani, by the Houthi security and intelligence apparatus in Sana’a and Hodeidah. According to citizens, dozens of armored vehicles belonging to the Houthi Preventive Security have been deployed in all areas under their control, and this is the first time that citizens have seen them.

The statement added that the campaign included the arrest of politicians and tribal leaders in northern Yemen, including Sheikh Fahd Amin Abu Ras, brother of the head of the General People's Congress party and deputy head of the group's Supreme Political Council. This came after a media campaign run by Al-Hawiya channel, affiliated with Mohammed Al-Imad, a leader in the group, which continued to publish for days, what it called (exposing external plots to target the regime), which was directly inciting against members and bases of the General People's Congress party, the largest Yemeni party.

According to reports received by Humena, the family members of the deceased Ali Abdul-Mughni (one of the leaders of the September 26 Revolution in 1962) were among those detained for unknown and unclear reasons. They were arrested on September 21, and the security officials affiliated with the Houthi group promised to release them after the National Day, i.e. after September 26, but they have not been released yet.

According to statistics on detainees, the largest percentage of arrests was in Ibb Governorate in central Yemen with 179 cases, then the capital Sana’a with 112 cases, then Dhamar Governorate with 56 cases, and Al Hudaydah Governorate in western Yemen with 37 cases, then Taiz Governorate in fifth place with 13 cases, followed by Al Mahwit Governorate with 12 cases, then Amran Governorate with 8 cases, then Al Bayda and Hajjah Governorates with 6 cases in each, and finally two cases in Al Dhale’ Governorate.

However, the Houthi campaign did not stop with the arrests. The Houthi media channels began inciting against political detainees and accusing them of espionage with foreign countries without any trial or disclosure of the places of detention.

The organization called on the international community and humanitarian organizations to take a firm stance towards these violations, pressure the Houthi group to stop the repressive campaign, immediately release all detainees, and ensure the protection of citizens’ rights and freedom of expression.

She warned that continuing these repressive policies would increase the suffering of the Yemeni people and deepen the humanitarian crisis raging in the country. The international community must act urgently to ensure the protection of civilians and stop attacks on freedoms and basic rights in Yemen.