Houthi Violations in Yemen: Human Rights Report

Report

The "Will to Combat Torture and Enforced Disappearances Organization" in Yemen revealed that the Houthi militia has committed over 500,000 murders against Yemenis over the past decade. Additionally, Houthi courts have issued more than 600 death sentences and imprisoned thousands of civilians with sentences ranging from 5 to 25 years since the militia's coup and occupation of Sana'a in 2014.

These findings were disclosed during an event held at the "Opera" Hall in The Hague, Netherlands. The event saw significant international attendance, including diplomats, international organizations, human rights activists, journalists, and representatives from the UN Office in Geneva.

First Report: Class and Racial Discrimination

Title: "Discrimination Between Class Policies and Racial Segregation"

The organization's president, Jamal Al-Maamari, presented a summary of the report. It highlighted that since 2004, Houthi wars have caused the deaths of more than 100,000 Yemenis during their six military campaigns.

The report also documented that since their 2014 coup:

Over 4.5 million Yemenis have been forcibly displaced.

Tens of thousands of civilians have been detained in secret prisons.

More than 400 detainees have died due to torture, while others have suffered permanent disabilities.

Discrimination Policies and Violations

The report detailed the discriminatory policies implemented by the Houthi militia:

Class-Based Discrimination: The Houthis claim a divine right to rule and enforce class-based segregation. They demean tribal communities, prohibit marriages with women of "Hashemite" descent, and permit "Hashemite" men to marry tribal women.

Discrimination Against Black Yemenis: The Houthis derogatorily label the black Yemeni community as "Akhdam" (servants) and force them into frontline combat. In 2020, 143 black individuals were killed in conflict zones in Al-Hodeidah alone.

Crimes Against African Migrants: The Houthis forcibly recruit African migrants, burning and bombing their camps. These attacks resulted in 64 deaths and 203 injuries. In the "Raqou" area of Saada, the militia destroyed 300 migrant camps, killed 132 people, and committed rape, child killings, and looting of properties.

Second Report: Houthi Courts and Death Sentences

Title: "Specialized Criminal Court in Sana'a: A Houthi Guillotine in White Robes"

The second report revealed the Houthi militia’s misuse of the illegitimate "Specialized Criminal Court" as a tool for oppression. The court has:

Issued over 600 death sentences.

Handed down prison sentences of 5 to 25 years based on confessions extracted under torture.

Although Yemen's Supreme Judicial Council in Aden disbanded the court in 2018, the Houthis continue to control and use it. The report noted that the court has even issued death sentences against humanitarian workers in Yemen.

Demands

Both reports called on the international community and human rights organizations to:

Launch independent investigations into Houthi violations.

Allow UNHCR access to detention centers without restrictions.

Stop extrajudicial executions and hold those responsible accountable.