A recent human rights report has revealed that Houthi militias, backed by the Iranian regime, committed 2,500 violations against the residents of Sana’a over the past two years, specifically in 2022 and 2023. The report, titled “Sana’a in Anger,” was released by the Office of Human Rights in the capital and shared with Yemen News Agency (Saba).
Types of Violations Documented
The report categorizes the documented violations into 14 distinct types. These include killings, injuries, torture, abduction, theft of public and private property, child recruitment, and various offenses against women and children. Additionally, it highlights cases of forced displacement, sectarianism, workplace discrimination, and assaults on judicial institutions.
Civilian Casualties and Abductions
The report details the tragic loss of 38 civilians, which includes 20 deaths resulting from torture and 18 fatalities from gunfire. Furthermore, it records 261 instances of injuries and physical assaults, along with 284 cases of abduction and enforced disappearance. The document also notes 251 cases of torture and cruel, inhumane treatment.
Suppression of National Celebrations
The report emphasizes the Houthi militia’s repression of citizens celebrating the 26th of September National Revolution Day in 2023. Many citizens took to the streets spontaneously, waving the republican flag, only to face aggression from the militias. The report describes incidents of flag desecration and the abduction of dozens of celebrants. This suppression marked a pivotal moment for Yemenis, who recognized that such oppression aimed to reinstate a dark era in their history. The report calls for resistance and the defense of the revolution and its achievements, urging citizens to make sacrifices against the waves of brutality.
Growing Public Anger
The report highlights a rising tide of public anger in Sana’a against the Houthi militia. The group’s policies of systematic starvation, oppression, and impoverishment have exacerbated the situation. The report points to the ongoing seizure of government salaries, militarization of daily life, and restrictions on freedom of speech and public liberties, all of which target the republican system.
Official Response
Fahmi Al-Zubairi, the Director of the Office of Human Rights in the capital, spoke to Yemen News Agency (Saba), asserting that the continued violations by the Houthi militias demonstrate their failure to sectarianize society and subdue the Yemeni people to their agenda. He emphasized that the Yemeni populace rejects the militia’s sectarian and racial discrimination, which contradicts the principles of the republican system and the achievements of the immortal 26th of September Revolution.
This report sheds light on the dire human rights situation in Yemen, calling for urgent attention and action from both national and international communities.
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