Human rights organization: Houthis committed 500,000 murders in Yemen over the past decade.
Houthi Militias Accused of Committing Over 500,000 Killings in Yemen
A recent report from the organization “Irada for Combating Torture and Forced Disappearance” reveals alarming statistics regarding the actions of Houthi militias in Yemen. Over the past decade, these militias have allegedly committed more than 500,000 murders against Yemeni citizens. Additionally, they have issued over 600 death sentences and prison sentences against civilians, marking a series of grave violations that amount to war crimes.
Human Rights Reports Unveiled in The Hague
This information emerged during a rights report launch event held at the “Opera” hall in The Hague, Netherlands. The event attracted significant international attention, with representatives from diplomatic missions, international organizations, journalists, and members of the United Nations Office in Geneva in attendance, as reported by the Saba News Agency.
Displacement and Torture of Yemenis
The first report, titled “Racial Discrimination Between Classism and Apartheid Policies,” highlights the Houthi militia’s actions since their coup in 2014. The organization states that they have displaced over 4.5 million Yemenis and imprisoned tens of thousands in secret jails. Detainees have reportedly faced torture and enforced disappearances, resulting in the deaths of 400 prisoners and leaving others with permanent disabilities.
The report also documents the militia’s policy of racial discrimination against citizens based on class and ethnicity. It emphasizes the derogatory treatment of tribal members and marginalized groups. Furthermore, it details the targeted violence against African migrants, including incidents of arson and mass killings, leading to the deaths of 64 migrants and injuries to 203 others. The report notes additional killings and displacements in various regions.
Judicial Abuses in Houthi-Controlled Areas
The second report, titled “The Specialized Criminal Court in Sana’a: A Houthi Guillotine in White Robes,” examines the abuses perpetrated by the militia through the criminal court in Sana’a. This court has issued death sentences against 600 detainees and long prison terms for civilians, including children and humanitarian workers.
The report clarifies that all these sentences came from a court deemed illegitimate, which the Supreme Judicial Council in Aden annulled in 2018. The militia allegedly exploited this court to whitewash torture crimes and fabricate charges against detainees.
Call for International Action
In conclusion, the organization urged the international community and global organizations to take immediate action to hold those responsible for these violations accountable. They called for the deployment of fact-finding teams and the initiation of independent investigations into the crimes of murder, torture, and forced displacement.
Moreover, the organization emphasized the need to confront the arbitrary death sentences enforced by the Houthi-controlled criminal court and to ensure the protection and asylum rights of African migrants.
This report sheds light on the dire human rights situation in Yemen and underscores the urgent need for global intervention to address these ongoing atrocities.
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