Human Rights Report: Houthis, STC, and Tariq Saleh’s Forces Implicated in the Arbitrary Detention of Journalists and Activists
Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
A periodic report issued by the Gulf Centre for Human Rights has revealed a worrying escalation in serious human rights violations in Yemen over the past three months, holding the Houthi group, the National Resistance Forces, and forces affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) responsible for widespread abuses. These include arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, targeting of journalists and human rights defenders, and the imposition of strict restrictions on freedom of expression and the press.
The report confirmed the continued detention of prominent human rights lawyer Abdulmajid Sabrah in secret prisons run by the Security and Intelligence Apparatus under the control of the Houthi de facto authorities in Sana’a, following his abduction from his office last September. It noted that he has gone on a hunger strike in protest against his incommunicado detention and the denial of visits and legal guarantees.
The report also documented the ongoing arbitrary detention of journalist and political analyst Adel Al-Nuzaili by the National Resistance Forces in the city of Mocha, despite announcements of his release. It confirmed that he has been held since last November without any legal justification, subjected to repeated psychological pressure, and denied contact with his family.
In the same context, the report pointed to the detention of journalist Naseh Shaker in unofficial prisons run by Security Belt Forces loyal to the STC in Aden, following his enforced disappearance while traveling to participate in a training course abroad. This constitutes a blatant violation of fair trial guarantees and international human rights law.
The report highlighted a systematic targeting of journalists and media professionals through judicial harassment, including a lawsuit filed by the STC against journalist Abdulrahman Anis and attempts to prevent him from practicing his profession. It also cited cases of detention and field assaults, the most recent being the detention of journalist Osama Al-Kurbash in Taiz Governorate while he was carrying out his journalistic work.
The report further addressed the increasing restrictions on civil society organizations, noting a decision by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor affiliated to the internationally recognized government to prohibit engagement with Mwatana for Human Rights. It described the move as a dangerous escalation targeting independent human rights work and undermining civic space.
Separately, the Gulf Centre for Human Rights documented an increase in the number of UN staff detained by the Houthi group to 69 employees, following the arrest of ten additional staff members this December. The move prompted strong condemnation from the UN Secretary-General, who called for their immediate and unconditional release.
The report warned that checkpoints run by the conflict parties have turned into tools of on-the-ground repression targeting journalists during their movements, revealing that the majority of journalists have been subjected to forced searches, financial extortion, and threats of arrest.
The Centre concluded its report with an urgent call on all parties to the conflict to immediately release those arbitrarily detained, respect public freedoms, and ensure a safe environment that enables journalists and human rights defenders to carry out their work without fear of retaliation or persecution.
