Abductees’ Mothers Association in Marib condemns the mass abductions, carried out by Houthi armed group, accompanied by the many violations against civilians in Alabdyia district in Marib. For nearly a month, the district had been besieged then invaded by Houthis, homes have, since, been stormed and civilians abducted amid media blackout. Additionally, Houthis have repeatedly cut off the internet and communication with the outside world, and closed down all the roads leading to the district except for the one they managed to completely control.
Abductees’ Mothers Association has carried out initial documentations of abducting 47 civilians in Alabdyia, some of whom have been taken to unknown destinations. The numbers are likely to be higher than documented, as the association has received many reports from Alabdyia claiming that Houthis have been constantly carrying out mass abduction operations, accompanied by many violations such as storming civilian houses and terrorizing families. Children have been detained and interrogated with in order to pressure them to uncover the whereabouts of their hiding fathers and relatives. Added to that were the abduction of the wounded and turning schools into detention centers.
At Abductees’ Mothers Association in Marib, we condemn the horrific acts carried out against the civilians in Alabdiya, which include the violations against their right of freedom and other grave cooccurring violations.
We hold Houthi armed group fully responsible for the lives and safety of all abductees, demand it to immediately stop all abduction operations, and to release all abductees. We call upon the United Nations, its Special Envoy for Yemen, the Office of the High Commissioner Office for Human Rights, and the international community to mount the needed pressure upon Houthi armed group in order to release all abductees and forcibly disappeared persons taken from Alabdiya, to end the siege of civilians, and stop all violations against them.
We urge all human rights and media organizations and activists to step up their humanitarian efforts to support the civilians at Alabdiya at these difficult times.
Issued by Abductees’ Mothers Association, Marib.
October 24nd, 2021.