Human rights network reports that Houthi militias have arrested and kidnapped 83 civilians in Ibb governorate over five months.

Houthi Militias Detain 83 Civilians in Ibb Province

The Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms has reported that Houthi militias, backed by the Iranian regime, have detained and abducted 83 civilians in Ibb Province between March 1, 2025, and July 20, 2025.

Details of the Abductions

In a report shared with the Yemeni News Agency (Saba), the network highlighted that among those abducted, there are nine cases of enforced disappearance, 22 educators, 12 students, three children, 14 street vendors, four traders and businessmen, six preachers, five social figures, and 17 professionals, including doctors, academics, and state employees. Additionally, the network’s field team documented 342 instances of home raids and 18 cases of looting.

Systematic Violations Against Civilians

The network noted that in recent days, Houthi militias have kidnapped several educators, academics, government employees, and private sector workers. These actions form part of a systematic campaign aimed at instilling fear among citizens and silencing dissent without any legal justification or judicial procedures. This campaign represents a significant escalation by the Houthis against civil society, targeting doctors, teachers, academics, lawyers, and employees without providing clear reasons or specific legal charges. Such actions violate international human rights treaties and agreements.

Establishment of Secret Prisons

The Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms documented the establishment of 12 secret prisons by Houthi militias in Ibb Province. These facilities reportedly subject detainees to various forms of psychological and physical torture, extracting confessions under threat and duress. These secret prisons serve not as temporary detention centers but as factories of terror, where anyone opposing the militia faces brutal treatment. Detainees often find their dignity stripped away in dark cells devoid of justice.

Ongoing Campaigns of Abduction

The network confirmed that Houthi militias have been conducting widespread abduction campaigns in several districts of Ibb Province for nearly three months. Armed raids, nighttime operations, and disruptions to streets and communication services have targeted tribal leaders, traders, public figures, and numerous citizens.

Call for Action

The Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms urged immediate local and international human rights and media action to expose these crimes. They called for the urgent release of all abducted individuals and those subjected to enforced disappearance, as well as accountability for those involved in these violations. The network emphasized the need to protect civilians from the militia’s brutality, which continues to dismantle state institutions and disrupt the social fabric in Ibb and other areas under their control.

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