Human rights groups call for a halt to the execution of three civilians in Houthi prisons in Yemen
Local and international human rights organizations have issued urgent appeals to the international community and the United Nations for immediate intervention to save the lives of three civilians facing execution by the Houthi group in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a. These appeals come amid growing concern about the fate of political and civilian detainees in prisons under the group's control, with reports confirming the absence of fair trial standards.
Trials that lack the most basic standards of justice
Human rights sources confirmed that the three civilians were subjected to sham trials before the Specialized Criminal Court in Sana'a, a court controlled by the Houthi group and used as a tool to settle scores with political opponents and activists. Reports indicated that the verdicts were based on confessions extracted under psychological and physical torture, with the defendants denied their legal right to defend themselves or appoint independent lawyers, a blatant violation of the Yemeni constitution and international human rights conventions.
A long history of human rights abuses since the coup
Returning to the broader context, since the Houthi group seized control of the capital, Sana'a, in September 2014, international organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have documented hundreds of executions and arbitrary arrests targeting journalists, academics, and politicians. The group has consistently used the judiciary to lend a veneer of legitimacy to its repressive measures, issuing dozens of death sentences that have been widely condemned. Observers note that these practices are not isolated incidents, but rather part of a systematic approach aimed at intimidating society and silencing dissenting voices.
International positions and their impact on the peace process
Internationally, the United Nations and the Security Council have consistently warned of the dangers of continuing to carry out executions in Yemen, considering these actions to be undermining the fragile peace efforts led by UN and regional mediation. Political analysts believe that the Houthis' insistence on carrying out such executions at this sensitive time could destroy confidence-building measures between the Yemeni parties and further complicate the already dire political and humanitarian situation. Human rights organizations are calling on the UN envoy to Yemen to exert real pressure to halt these executions and secure the release of all detainees and those forcibly disappeared.
Call for immediate action
The organizations conclude their statement by emphasizing that international silence regarding these violations encourages the commission of more of them, calling on all living consciences to exert pressure to cancel the unjust death sentences, ensure the safety of the three civilians, and restore respect for the principles of justice and human rights in Yemen.
