The Abductees’ Mothers Association condemns the mass death sentences issued by the Primary Criminal Court in Sana’a against 30 abductees, most of whom have been held for four years in Houthi prisons. These individuals were tried without meeting the minimum requirements for fair procedures. According to lawyer Abdul Majid Sabra, “These abductees were subjected to severe physical and psychological torture and were forcibly disappeared for nine months in solitary confinement, deprived of visits and communication. Their trials were conducted unjustly, as the Houthi group uses this court to achieve political gains without any regard for their humanitarian situation.”
These unjust sentences are part of a series of ongoing violations committed by the Houthi group against abductees and innocent civilians, including issuing death sentences from politicized courts under their control. This situation recalls the execution of nine Tihama residents on September 18, 2021, and repeats the same scenario in blatant defiance of all international human rights standards and laws.
We hold the Houthi group fully responsible for the lives and safety of these abductees. We call on the international community, including the United Nations and human rights organizations, to take urgent and firm action to pressure the Houthis to stop these violations, annul these sentences, and hold those responsible accountable.
We also urge all Yemeni parties to adhere to international humanitarian law, respect human rights, and work towards the unconditional release of all abductees, arbitrarily detained individuals, and forcibly disappeared persons.
The Abductees’ Mothers Association emphasizes the need for legal support for the abductees and their families, and ensures that perpetrators of these crimes will not escape punishment, as these are crimes that do not lapse over time. We call on all active forces and people of conscience worldwide to stand in solidarity with the victims of these violations and to work tirelessly to achieve justice and protect human rights. We express our full solidarity with the families of the abductees and affirm that we will continue our struggle for the release of their loved ones, seeking justice and holding the perpetrators accountable.
Abductees’ Mothers Association Monday, June 10, 2024
