Human Rights Violations in Yemen: Over 6,400 Arbitrary Arrests Documented in 2025
The Irada Organization for Combating Torture and Enforced Disappearance released its seventh annual report for 2025, revealing a staggering 6,417 cases of arbitrary detention across various provinces. The report identifies the Houthi militia, backed by the Iranian regime, as the primary perpetrator of these violations, followed closely by armed groups affiliated with the disbanded Transitional Council.
Houthi Abductions Surge in September
The report, titled “The Painful Reality and Years of Deprivation – Yemen 2025,” highlights that the Houthi militia executed 4,785 cases of abduction and arbitrary detention in September alone. Among these, 217 children were detained outside the juvenile justice framework. The disbanded Transitional Council’s armed factions accounted for 1,125 arbitrary arrests, primarily concentrated in the provinces of Hadhramaut, Aden, and Lahij.
Deaths in Prisons and Secret Detention Centers
The report documented the deaths of 24 detainees within prisons, including:
- 12 detainees killed by the Houthi militia
- 7 detainees killed by the Transitional Council’s factions
- The remaining deaths resulted from deliberate medical neglect
Violations occurred in secret prisons and detention centers located in Aden, Lahij, Abyan, Shabwa, and Hadhramaut. Notable facilities included:
- Bir Ahmed Detention Center
- Al-Riyan Airport
- Balhaf Facility
- Houthi secret prisons in Jabal Sarf, east of Sana’a
- The southern building of the National Security Prison in Shamlan
- Detention centers stretching from Saada to Al-Salih City in Taiz
Enforced Disappearances and Field Violations
The report also recorded 341 cases of enforced disappearance, with the Houthi militia responsible for 82% of these incidents, while the Transitional Council’s factions accounted for 44 cases.
Furthermore, the Houthi militia led in killings at checkpoints and home raids, comprising 83% of such incidents, followed by the Transitional Council’s factions at 17%. The report detailed:
- 32 fatalities
- 19 cases of field executions
- 218 injuries during the Transitional Council’s incursions into Mukalla, Sayoun, and Wadi Hadhramaut
Displacement and Child Recruitment
The report highlighted significant displacement, with:
- 1,815 civilians displaced by the Houthi militia
- 1,346 civilians displaced by the Transitional Council’s factions
Additionally, the Houthis recruited approximately 370,200 children into sectarian training programs across 1,560 schools, facilities, and camps. They also enlisted 38,000 children for active military service, labeling these figures as catastrophic and indicative of a systematic effort to erase national identity and indoctrinate youth.
Humanitarian Work Under Attack
The report addressed violations against humanitarian efforts, including:
- Kidnapping of UN staff
- Targeting of World Food Program workers
- Theft of international aid, which deprived 48% of the population in Houthi-controlled areas of essential assistance, exacerbating poverty, malnutrition, and deteriorating health and water services.
Calls for International Accountability
The organization urged immediate actions, including:
- Immediate release of all arbitrarily detained individuals
- Halting the detention of children
- Closure of secret prisons
- Ensuring accountability and an end to impunity
The organization also called on the international community to impose individual sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, and to initiate independent and transparent investigations into severe violations that are not subject to statute of limitations.
For further details, visit the original report here.
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