Geneva – SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties stated that the practices carried out by the Houthi group, including mass abductions and widespread raids in the governorates of Saada and Al-Hodeidah, represent a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and Yemeni national law. The organization emphasized that these acts reveal a serious escalation in systematic violations against civilians, carried out under unlawful pretexts and accusations related to espionage and collaboration with foreign entities.

The organization indicated that, based on local sources and credible testimonies, it had documented arbitrary raid campaigns launched by the group during the period from April 9 to 11, in the Razeh district of Saada governorate. These campaigns resulted in the abduction of dozens of civilians, including educators and prominent social figures who are not affiliated with or loyal to the group. Among those abducted is Abdo Saleh Ahmed Yousef, the former Deputy Director of the Education Office in Razeh, as well as several teachers, most notably Jamil Jehadi, Faiz Al-Khatfa, Jubran Sagheer, and others whose identities remain unknown, according to Al-Masdar Online.

SAM also reported, citing Al-Masdar Online, that the Houthi group abducted dozens of civilians on the grounds of receiving humanitarian aid provided by charitable entities. The organization considered this incident a dangerous precedent in exploiting the humanitarian situation to fabricate criminal charges. The group used the mere act of receiving aid as justification to accuse at least fifty citizens of "espionage" and collaboration, without any legal evidence or judicial proceedings allowing the detainees to defend themselves.

SAM considered these violations to amount to crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute and constitute clear violations of Articles 9 and 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. These legal frameworks guarantee the right to liberty, personal security, and a fair trial, and explicitly prohibit arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance.

The organization further stressed that Yemeni law prohibits arrest or search without a judicial warrant, in accordance with Article 48 of the Yemeni Constitution, which guarantees human dignity, freedom of movement, and obliges the authorities not to infringe upon citizens' freedoms without legal basis.

Additionally, SAM noted that the involvement of female personnel in search operations, along with violations of the sanctity of homes and the search of personal phones—including those of children—constitutes a serious breach of societal norms and domestic laws. These actions further demonstrate violations of privacy and the sanctity of dwellings, both of which are protected under international and national legal frameworks.

The SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties called for the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals arbitrarily detained, and for an end to all security campaigns targeting civilians without legal justification or judicial warrants. The organization emphasized the need to grant international and local independent organizations access to detention centers to assess the conditions of detainees and ensure they receive their basic legal and human rights.

The organization also urged the initiation of prompt, independent, and transparent investigations into all cases of abduction and enforced disappearance. These investigations should include documentation of violations and prosecution of those responsible, in line with international standards of justice and accountability. SAM affirmed that continued impunity encourages the repetition of such violations and deepens the suffering of civilians.

SAM called on the international community—including the United Nations Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights—to take urgent action and exert real pressure on the Houthi group to put an immediate end to these practices. It also highlighted the necessity of supporting monitoring and accountability efforts and ensuring the immediate protection of civilians.