The family of the oldest Jewish prisoner held by the Houthis is eagerly awaiting his release
Ongoing suffering and hope for release
The family of the longest-serving Jewish prisoner held by the Houthis in Yemen lives in a state of anxious anticipation and pain, awaiting his release after years of arbitrary detention. The prisoner, Levi Salem Musa Marhabi, has been held in Houthi prisons since 2016, and his suffering continues despite previous court rulings ordering his release, which the Houthi authorities in Sana'a refuse to implement.
The case stems from the Houthis' accusation that Marhabi helped a Yemeni Jewish family leave the country and smuggle a rare, ancient Torah scroll to Israel. Although an appeals court in Sana'a ordered his release in 2019, the militia continued to detain him as a bargaining chip, making him the longest-serving Jewish prisoner in Houthi custody and possibly the last remaining member of the community, given the displacement of the rest of the Jewish population.
General context and historical background of the Jews of Yemen
The Jewish community in Yemen is one of the oldest in the world, with a history spanning thousands of years. Yemeni Jews were distinguished by their unique cultural and religious heritage, which was deeply intertwined with Yemeni culture. However, the mid-20th century witnessed a major exodus of Yemeni Jews, most notably Operation Magic Carpet between 1949 and 1950.
The community's numbers dwindled dramatically over the decades, reaching only a few dozen by the first decade of the 21st century. With the outbreak of the Yemeni conflict and the Houthi group's control of the capital, Sana'a, and large areas of northern Yemen, religious minorities, especially the Jewish and Baha'i communities, were subjected to immense pressure and forced displacement campaigns, almost emptying Yemen of its historical religious diversity.
Deteriorating health conditions and international appeals
Credible human rights reports indicate that the health of Levi Salem Marhabi has deteriorated significantly during his years of detention. He has suffered harsh prison conditions and medical neglect, resulting in chronic health problems, including tooth loss and severe mobility impairment. Numerous international human rights organizations, as well as the U.S. State Department, have repeatedly called for his immediate and unconditional release, warning of the imminent danger to his life.
The importance of the event and its regional and international impact
At the local level, the continued detention of the oldest Jewish prisoner held by the Houthis highlights the reality of religious freedoms and minority rights in areas under the group's control. It reflects a systematic approach to suppressing dissent and eliminating the cultural and religious diversity for which Yemen has historically been known.
At the regional and international levels, this case stands out as clear evidence in human rights forums of the grave human rights violations in Yemen. These practices affect the course of political negotiations and peace processes, as the international community insists on respect for human rights as a fundamental condition for any comprehensive political settlement. Marhabi's freedom is not merely an individual case; it is a symbol of the suffering of minorities and the forcibly disappeared in conflict zones, and a constant reminder to the international community of its responsibilities to protect the vulnerable.
