Human rights groups report that since Yemen‘s civil war began in 2014, the Houthis have arbitrarily kidnapped, detained, and tortured hundreds of civilians, including UN and NGO workers.
DUBAI: UN agencies and NGOs raised “deep concern” on Saturday over the possible prosecution of many of their staff members who have been “arbitrarily detained” by Houthi rebels in Yemen. They renewed their urgent call for their immediate release. The Iran-backed Houthis have arrested dozens of UN personnel and humanitarian workers, most since June, accusing them of being part of a “US-Israeli espionage ring,” a claim the UN firmly denies.
“We are extremely alarmed by the mention of ‘prosecution’ by the de facto Houthi authorities of several arbitrarily detained colleagues,” said a statement signed by heads of key UN entities and international NGOs.
The Houthi authorities have yet to issue any official statement on the situation.
