clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

UN chief condemns Houthi execution of 9 Yemenis

September 20, 2021 at 3:49 pm

9 Yemenis who were executed by the Houthis over their alleged involvement in the killing of a senior Houthi official in an airstrike

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres yesterday condemned the execution of nine Yemenis by the Houthis over their alleged involvement in the killing of a senior Houthi official in an airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition in April 2018.

“The Secretary-General deeply regrets that the Houthi movement yesterday carried out executions of nine individuals, one of whom was reportedly a minor at the time of detention,” Guterres’ spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said in a statement.

The statement quoted Guterres as saying that the trial in which the nine Yemenis were convicted and sentenced to death “do not appear to have met the requirements of fair trial and due process under international law”.

The nine were among more than 60 people the Houthis accused of involvement in the targeted killing of their former leader Saleh Al-Samad in April 2018.

READ: Protests in US over the murder of Yemeni-American in Lahj province

The airstrike carried out by the Saudi-led coalition also killed six other people in the Hudaydah governorate in the west of the country.

Activists on social media circulated pictures and videos of the executions carried out on Saturday in the capital, Sanaa.

The UN chief also expressed “concern” about “a reported airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition in Shabwa (southeast Yemen) that allegedly killed at least six civilians from the same family.”