Sanaa- In a concerning escalation of judicial repression in areas controlled by the Houthi group in Yemen, a Houthi-run court in Sana’a has issued death sentences against 17 individuals, in addition to prison terms for others, on charges of “spying for foreign countries.”
These rulings are part of a broader pattern of unfair trials that lack basic legal standards and are widely used as a tool to intimidate civilians and staff working with international organizations.

Unfounded Accusations and Evidence of Coerced Confessions

Yemeni and international human rights sources indicate that many of those sentenced have no connection whatsoever to espionage, and that the confessions cited by the court were extracted under torture, coercion, and threats.
Observers affirm that a significant number of the defendants were former employees of humanitarian organizations or civilians arrested for reasons unrelated to national security, in the context of the Houthis’ tightening control over civil and humanitarian space.

A Direct Threat to Humanitarian Workers

This case sends a clear message of intimidation to local staff and employees working with international and UN agencies.
For years, humanitarian actors in Houthi-held areas have faced:

Arbitrary arrests,

Enforced disappearances,

Extortion and harassment,

Severe restrictions on humanitarian operations.

Humanitarian experts warn that such practices could force many agencies to scale down or suspend their operations, at a time when more than 20 million Yemenis rely on humanitarian assistance for survival.

Clear Human Rights Condemnation

Jamal Alawadhi, President of the National Center for Human Rights and Democratic Development (NCHRDD) – a Yemeni human rights organization – condemned these arbitrary rulings, stressing that the sentences lack any legal legitimacy and constitute a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.
Alawadhi emphasized that these trials represent “a systematic approach aimed at subjugating civil society and terrorizing local employees working with international organizations in order to impose full security control over the humanitarian space.”

Trials That Fail Every Standard of Justice

Houthi-run courts continue to face growing criticism for:

Holding secret trials,

Denying defendants access to legal representation,

Relying on coerced confessions,

Blocking independent oversight of judicial procedures.

Legal experts describe these verdicts as a serious breach of international conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Urgent International Calls

Yemeni and international human rights organizations have called on the United Nations and the global community to urgently pressure the Houthis to halt the execution orders, release those arbitrarily detained, and protect humanitarian workers from persecution and intimidation.

The Houthis’ issuance of death sentences against 17 individuals marks a dangerous escalation in the politicization of the judiciary and the violation of human rights in Yemen. With organizations such as NCHRDD condemning these actions, urgent international engagement is required to curb such abuses and safeguard humanitarian operations on which millions of Yemenis depend.