Minister of Information: Houthis are abducting civilians to exchange them for their fighters on the front lines.
Houthi Militias Continue Abduction of Civilians, Claims Yemeni Minister
Minister Accuses Iranian-Backed Group of Deception
The Yemeni Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Moammer Al-Eryani, has accused the Iranian-backed Houthi militia of pursuing a policy of deception and falsehood. He asserts that this strategy aims to distort the truth and obscure the militia’s criminal actions against the Yemeni people. Among these actions, he highlighted the abduction of civilians from their homes and their subsequent enforced disappearances. The militia reportedly exchanges these civilians for its members captured by the national army across various battlefronts.
Details of Abductions and Torture
In a recent press statement, Al-Eryani detailed the case of Fadh Abdullah Mohammed Al-Salmi, the principal of Al-Nahda School for Boys, one of Yemen’s largest private educational institutions. Al-Salmi was abducted from his home on October 6, 2015, as he was leaving. The militia stormed his residence, confiscating personal belongings, including his laptop and phone. Al-Salmi has endured nine years in captivity, during which he suffered various forms of psychological and physical torture. Additionally, the militia issued an invalid death sentence against him.
Capture of Houthi Leader and Ongoing Abductions
Al-Eryani also mentioned the capture of Houthi leader Murad Rizq Ali Saleh Al-Bahri. He was arrested by the national army in September 2020 while fighting on behalf of the Houthis in Marib. Al-Bahri sustained severe facial injuries, for which he received medical treatment, including the installation of a prosthetic eye.
This incident is not isolated. Al-Eryani emphasized that the Houthi militia has a history of abducting politicians, journalists, and civil society activists to exchange them for their captured members. Thousands of civilians remain imprisoned by the militia.
Call for International Action
Al-Eryani urged the international community, including the United Nations and human rights organizations, to take responsibility for the crimes and violations committed by the Houthi militia against innocent civilians. He called for immediate action to classify the group as a “global terrorist organization,” to freeze its financial, political, and media resources, and to prosecute its leaders in international criminal courts. He stressed the importance of ensuring accountability for these actions.
The ongoing situation in Yemen highlights the urgent need for international intervention to address the human rights violations perpetrated by the Houthi militia. The plight of abducted civilians and the call for justice underscore the critical nature of this humanitarian crisis.
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