476 Detainees Die Under Torture in Houthi Prisons Over Seven Years

The Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms revealed in a recent report that 476 abductees have died due to severe torture in Houthi-run prisons over the past seven years. The report was released on the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, observed annually on June 26.

Between January 1, 2018, and April 30, 2025, the Houthis reportedly abducted 1,937 individuals, including 117 children, 43 women, and 89 elderly persons. Of those, 476 died after enduring brutal torture — either while in detention or shortly after release due to deteriorating health.

The report also revealed that the Houthis operate approximately 641 detention facilities in areas under their control, including 368 official and 273 secret prisons. Many of these are located in repurposed government buildings, Quranic schools, political offices, and even private homes.

The network warned that the widespread use of secret prisons and the systematic torture of detainees reflect a severe deterioration in the human rights situation in Yemen..

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