Geneva – SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties reported receiving information from local sources in Hayfan District, Taiz Governorate, confirming that Houthi forces have launched a large-scale arrest campaign targeting teachers in several villages under their control. As of Thursday, August 28, nearly 48 individuals had been detained. The organization noted that these arrests come amid dire humanitarian and security conditions, making them both arbitrary and legally unjustifiable.

SAM stated that it has obtained the names of some detainees but is withholding them to protect their safety and that of their families. It stressed that depriving individuals of their liberty without legal basis is a blatant violation of the Yemeni Constitution and international conventions that guarantee personal freedom and protection against arbitrary detention.

The organization warned that targeting teachers further compounds the grave violations already suffered by the Yemeni population and reflects a deliberate policy of undermining educational institutions—threatening the future of the entire education system. It added that such practices perpetuate a climate of fear and intimidation and erode prospects for achieving social peace.

SAM called on the Houthi group to immediately and unconditionally release all detained teachers, end arbitrary detentions and unlawful prosecutions, and respect citizens’ rights as guaranteed under national law and international treaties. It also urged that detainees be granted basic rights, including contact with their families, access to legal counsel, and proper medical care.

The organization further appealed to the international community, the United Nations, and the Human Rights Council to exert serious pressure on the Houthi group to end these systematic violations and take urgent steps to protect civilians and teachers from being targeted. SAM emphasized the importance of ensuring accountability, preventing impunity, and including these violations in international monitoring reports to strengthen efforts toward justice and redress for victims.