Geneva - SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties stated that the Houthi group continues its violations against Yemenis under the pretext of espionage and collaboration with foreign countries. The group announced yesterday, Wednesday, December 25, 2024, the arrest of individuals described as spies, who were recruited and enlisted through the wanted spy for justice, Hamid Hussein Fayyad Majli, in an incident reminiscent of the arrests carried out by the group last June against employees of international and local organizations on charges of espionage for foreign countries, confirming that the group increasingly uses such charges as a tool to intimidate civilian populations, spread terror among them, and disrupt civilian life under the pretext of "national security."
Houthi media outlets mentioned that the espionage and intelligence activities attributed to those recruited by Majli, who were arrested, included monitoring and identifying locations related to missile forces, drones, naval forces, and other military sites, as well as monitoring and identifying the positions of revolutionary, political, military, security leaderships, and social figures associated with the group, in favor of the American intelligence agency and the Israeli intelligence service, the arbitrary charges usually pinned by the group on its opponents and anyone not affiliated with its agenda.
SAM pointed out that the decisions and actions taken by the group in such cases are characterized by ambiguity and lack of transparency, as detainees are deprived of clear legal rights and are not allowed to communicate with lawyers or their families, raising serious questions about the fairness and integrity of these actions.
The organization noted that since the establishment of a new security apparatus under the Ministry of Interior led by the nephew of the group's founder, clear features of the repressive state have emerged in Houthi-controlled areas, especially in Sanaa. This new apparatus, believed to have wide and unrestricted powers, has strengthened the group's security grip on civilians, turning Sanaa and its controlled areas into a large prison, reminiscent of the tragedies of the Syrian people under the oppressive ousted regime, where charges of "conspiracy" and "espionage" were exploited to justify mass arrest campaigns, suppress opposition voices, and silence any form of civil resistance.
SAM highlighted the suffering of civilians in Houthi-controlled areas and the severe violations they face, where they lack justice and live in constant fear, as security agencies intervene in the details of their daily lives, hindering any opportunity for improving their conditions or achieving the justice they deserve.
SAM called on international organizations and the international community in general to adopt a firm stance against the widespread human rights violations committed by the Houthi group in Yemen, and to take immediate action to pressure the Houthis to stop these repressive practices and ensure respect for human rights and justice for all without discrimination.