36 civilians tortured by Houthis ahead of trial

Thirty-six civilians were tortured by the Houthis after being forced into disappearance for two years and having since been entered into military courts that lack basic due process, a human rights group has said.

According to Sam Organisation for Rights and Liberties, the Yemenis showed signs of “physical torture” during the first session and many complained that they were forced to confess under torture and duress. They are accused of assisting the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis. The trials are taking place in a National Security Court with military judges, in violation of the country’s constitution and international law.

The Houthi group has the real power on the ground, and they control the court in which the trial of these Yemeni civilians is taking place.

Court staff called the defendants “collaborators”, “villains” and “mercenaries” during the trial, Euro-Med Monitor said.

Human rights groups condemn the treatment of the 36 civilians and called upon the Houthi group, who are in de-facto control of Sana’a, to uphold human rights conventions and international standards to the trial.