International organizations: United Nations employees are being tortured in Houthi militia prisons in Sana’a.
- International organizations report UN employees face torture in Houthi militia prisons in Sana'a.
- Eight individuals, including UN staff, are prosecuted on fabricated espionage charges.
- Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch demand immediate release of the detainees.
- Detainees report severe health issues due to torture and lack of medical care.
UN Employees Tortured in Houthi Prisons, Say Human Rights Organizations
International organizations Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have confirmed that United Nations employees and international organization staff kidnapped by the Houthi militia in Sana’a face severe torture to extract forced confessions. Some of these individuals now risk execution after the militia referred eight of them to its courts on fabricated espionage charges.
Eight Employees Face Potential Death Sentences
The joint statement from the organizations revealed that since August 18, the militia has prosecuted at least eight individuals working in human rights and humanitarian fields on espionage charges. This group includes:
- Two United Nations employees
- One consultant for the United Nations
- Five workers from international and local organizations
Calls for Immediate Release
Both organizations have called for the immediate and unconditional release of the eight individuals facing trial, as well as the release of dozens of other employees kidnapped over the past two years.
Torture, Solitary Confinement, and Deteriorating Health
Families of the detainees reported that the kidnapped individuals have been forced to confess under torture or the threat of it. Their health conditions are deteriorating sharply, with reports indicating that:
- Two detainees suffer from diabetes without adequate medical care.
- One is at risk of developing glaucoma.
- Another detainee has stomach cancer and has been denied family visits.
- One more has contracted hepatitis while in custody.
Dr. Ali Al-Madhwah’s wife confirmed that her husband has endured solitary confinement, torture, and severe psychological pressure, with the Houthis attempting to coerce him into claiming that vaccines are tools for espionage.
Systematic Use of Espionage Charges
The statement highlighted that since 2015, the Houthi militia has employed espionage charges to target political opponents and silence peaceful voices. The organizations documented numerous cases where torture was used to extract confessions.
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