The Abductees’ Mothers Association strongly condemns the widespread abductions and arbitrary arrests carried out by the Houthi group against civilians in rural areas of Taiz governorate. The crackdown follows military attacks on several villages in recent weeks, marking a dangerous escalation that has left peaceful communities living in fear and turned their homes and villages into places of intimidation, pursuit and retaliation.
The association says it has documented the abduction of more than 171 civilians so far. This is only an initial figure, as fighting continues and access to information remains difficult, making it challenging to verify further cases. The actual number of victims is therefore likely to be higher.
According to information received by the association, civilians have been abducted for a range of reasons, including publishing posts critical of the Houthi group, holding opposing political views, refusing to take part in the fighting, or declining to follow religious instructions that the group has sought to impose by force on residents of villages and districts after taking control of their mosques. These practices amount to targeting people for their opinions, beliefs and personal choices, in clear violation of their fundamental rights and freedoms.
The association is deeply concerned by reports that the Houthi group has been gathering detailed information about residents in rural areas in preparation for abducting them, following its announcement of what it calls a “general amnesty.” This raises serious concerns that the announcement is being used to lure residents into a situation where they may be targeted, further undermining any sense of safety. The campaign has also reportedly triggered an unprecedented wave of displacement, forcing families to flee their villages and homes for fear of arrest, abduction and an uncertain fate.
The association stresses that attacks on peaceful villages using various types of weapons, followed by the abduction of civilians from their homes and communities, constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Depending on the circumstances, such acts may amount to war crimes and must be investigated, with those responsible held accountable.
These violations cannot be justified on military, security or political grounds. Nor can civilians be used as tools of retaliation or subjected to coercion and control through force.
The Abductees’ Mothers Association holds the Houthi group fully responsible for the lives and safety of all civilians abducted from their homes and villages. It warns that continuing this campaign could lead to further violations, more victims and additional forced displacement, particularly in the absence of credible safeguards to protect residents.
The association therefore calls for the following measures:
- An immediate end to abductions and arbitrary arrests targeting civilians in rural Taiz, and the immediate, unconditional release of everyone detained because of their opinions, political positions or refusal to participate in the fighting.
- Full disclosure of the whereabouts and fate of all abductees, with guarantees for their physical and psychological safety. Detainees must be allowed to contact their families and lawyers and must be protected from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
- An end to the persecution of residents over their social media posts, political views or beliefs, and an end to the forced imposition of religious instructions or the use of mosques as tools of coercion and control over local communities.
- Independent and transparent investigations into these violations, with those responsible held accountable and measures taken to ensure that perpetrators do not escape justice.
- Urgent, serious and tangible international action to protect civilians in rural Taiz, pressure the Houthi group to halt the violations and release those abducted, and take practical steps that go beyond statements of condemnation to achieve meaningful protection on the ground.
The association warns that silence in the face of these violations only encourages them to continue and spread. Protecting civilians, establishing the fate of abductees, securing their release and holding those responsible to account are urgent obligations that cannot be postponed or replaced by expressions of concern and condemnation alone.