The Abductees’ Mothers Association is deeply alarmed by the escalating and dangerous violations committed by the Houthi group against civilians. Most recently, on Saturday, the group’s so-called Specialized Criminal Court in Sana’a, operating under its control, issued death sentences against seventeen citizens and handed prison terms to others, following trials that lacked any legal or procedural legitimacy and relied on confessions extracted under torture and enforced disappearance.
These rulings constitute a blatant violation of the principles of justice and of international conventions that prohibit the trial of civilians before non-independent and unrecognized courts, as well as the use of confessions obtained through torture. Such practices contravene international humanitarian law and the Convention Against Torture.
The Association strongly condemns the public defamation carried out by the Houthi group through broadcasting coerced “confessions” of Abductees, including a woman, on its affiliated media outlets, despite these interrogations being conducted under duress, torture, and intimidation. These fabricated confessions cannot, under any circumstance, be treated as valid evidence in a fair trial. Their use serves only as a tool of political coercion and a grave violation of victims’ rights.
These abuses not only target the abductees themselves but also inflict severe psychological harm on their families, who live in constant fear for the safety of their loved ones.
The Association also denounces the raids on humanitarian organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as such actions seriously undermine humanitarian work and obstruct mediation efforts vital to protecting detainees and securing their release.
We further condemn the abduction of academics and intellectuals, which we consider an act of retaliation aimed at suppressing free thought, cultural diversity, and civil liberties, in clear violation of international humanitarian law and Yemen’s constitutional principles.
Accordingly, the Abductees’ Mothers Association reaffirms its rejection of the death and prison sentences issued by the so-called Specialized Criminal Court, which lacks legal legitimacy, follows no proper judicial procedures, and bases its rulings on fabricated charges and torture-extracted confessions.
We call on the United Nations, including the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, to exert urgent and effective pressure to secure the immediate release of all abductees and forcibly disappeared persons held by the Houthi group, to end arbitrary arrests, torture, and unlawful trials, and to protect detainees before it is too late.
We also urge the formation of an independent and transparent international committee to investigate forced confessions and the violations associated with death penalty cases and unfair trials.
We reiterate our appeal to the international community to apply real pressure to prevent a repeat of the tragic executions of nine men from Tihama, and to ensure that perpetrators do not evade accountability.
We stress the importance of protecting humanitarian and civil society organizations and allowing them to operate without threats, raids, or restrictions.
At the Abductees’ Mothers Association, we renew our commitment to our sons; to continue exposing injustice and violations, defending their rights, and working tirelessly until all abductees and the forcibly disappeared are freed and their suffering, and that of their families, is brought to an end.
Issued by: Abductees’ Mothers Association
Monday, 24 November 2025