Human Rights Watch: Houthis Should Provide Services Instead of Arresting Civilians
Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
Human Rights Watch said on Monday that the Houthi group in Yemen has continued to carry out arbitrary arrests of civilians, including members of Christian minorities, calling on the armed group to focus on providing basic necessities to the population instead of engaging in arrests.
In a statement, the organization’s Yemen and Bahrain researcher, Niku Jafarnia, noted that rather than addressing the crises of hunger, water shortages, and the lack of basic services, the Houthis continue to arbitrarily detain people. She urged the authorities to ensure the provision of food, water, and medical care for all residents in areas under their control.
According to field investigations conducted by the organization, the arrest campaign against Christians began in late November and early December 2025, initially targeting seven Christians in Sana’a, before expanding to include more than 20 individuals in other governorates prior to Christmas.
Sources said the arrests were carried out by force, involving home raids and the breaking down of doors, without presenting any official arrest warrants.
Individuals interviewed by the organization confirmed that most detainees were not allowed to communicate with their families, and that some suffer from chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes and require urgent medical care, with no indication that they are receiving appropriate treatment.
Human Rights Watch stated that these practices, including enforced disappearances, constitute a clear violation of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, warning that their continuation exacerbates civilian suffering and increases the vulnerability of religious minorities in Yemen.
Estimates by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom indicate that Yemen’s Christian community has shrunk from around 41,000 people several years ago to only a few thousand due to conflict and persecution, while determining precise figures remains difficult because minorities fear retaliation.
Human Rights Watch said the Houthis’ recent campaign comes within the context of ongoing systematic violations against religious minorities, as well as targeting journalists, human rights defenders, United Nations staff, and others exercising their right to freedom of expression or civic participation.
Niku Jafarnia said:
“The Houthis have repeatedly claimed to be champions of justice, but what we are witnessing on the ground shows the exact opposite. Those who oppose injustice abroad should not practice it against their own people at home.”
The organization called on the Houthis to immediately halt arbitrary arrests and to prioritize the provision of basic services to citizens as an urgent step to save civilian lives and ensure respect for human rights and international law.
