In Sanaa, Houthi militias impose levies on women for travel permission.

In a recent development that highlights the ongoing oppression in Yemen, the Iran-backed Houthi militias have introduced financial charges for women wishing to travel without a male guardian from Sanaa. This move is part of a broader series of repressive measures aimed at financially exploiting the citizens under the guise of regulating women’s travel.

A Barrier to Family and Healthcare

One citizen recounted her ordeal, explaining how the Houthi militias barred her from traveling from Sanaa to Aden via bus to visit her sick mother. Despite presenting all necessary documentation for a travel permit, the militia’s stringent policies prevented her journey. The requirement for her husband’s presence and the insistence on original identification documents for her father, who resides in Aden with the rest of her family, posed insurmountable obstacles.

Financial Exploitation Unveiled

The citizen further revealed the underlying financial motive behind the militia’s obstruction. After a week of navigating between her home and the militia-controlled interior ministry office, a bribe of 7,000 Yemeni riyals expedited the issuance of her travel permit. Another traveler shared a similar story, having paid 10,000 Yemeni riyals for a permit after repeated visits and fulfilling all requirements, highlighting the use of intermediaries by the militia to indirectly sell these permits.

The True Cost of Control

These testimonies shed light on the Houthi militia’s exploitation of their control over Sanaa, leveraging travel restrictions on women to generate income. This strategy not only imposes a financial burden on citizens already facing harsh humanitarian conditions but also restricts their freedom of movement, especially in critical situations requiring family care or access to healthcare.

The Houthi decision to monetize women’s travel permissions underlines the broader economic and social challenges faced by Yemen’s population amidst ongoing conflict. As the international community continues to scrutinize the situation, the plight of those under Houthi control remains a pressing humanitarian concern.

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