New Escalation in Sana’a: UN Warns of Repercussions After Houthi Authorities Refer Detained Staff to Judiciary
Yemen Monitor / New York / Exclusive:
The United Nations on Tuesday strongly condemned the move by the Houthi group (the de facto authorities in Sana’a) to refer a number of its arbitrarily detained staff to the “Specialized Criminal Court.”
The international organization expressed grave concern over the fate of 59 of its staff members, along with dozens of workers from international organizations and diplomatic missions who have been held in prisons for extended periods.
In an official statement issued by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, and reviewed by “Yemen Monitor,” the international organization confirmed that these employees are being held incommunicado and in isolation from the outside world. Some have been detained for years without any due legal process, which the UN called a blatant violation of international law.
The statement stressed that UN personnel, including Yemeni nationals, enjoy comprehensive legal immunity for all acts performed within the scope of their official duties—an immunity that cannot be waived by unilateral local actions.
The Secretary-General’s Spokesperson called on the Houthi authorities to immediately reverse the decision to refer the staff for trial and to work in good faith to release all detained personnel from the UN, NGOs, and the diplomatic corps.
The United Nations concluded its statement by affirming its commitment to supporting the Yemeni people and providing humanitarian assistance, despite the increasing challenges and risks facing its teams on the ground.
