Sana’a— The Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms has documented a dramatic surge in criminal activity in Houthi-controlled territories, reporting a 500% rise in crime rates during the current year. 

The organization attributes the spike to a combination of sectarian indoctrination, militia impunity, and worsening economic and psychological conditions.

The report highlights a wave of brutal crimes in governorates such as Raymah, Ibb, Al-Jawf, Al-Bayda, Sanaa, and Amran, including murders, kidnappings, domestic violence, and assaults against women and children. Many of the perpetrators are reportedly linked to Houthi leadership or are fighters returning from frontlines, often influenced by extremist ideologies.

Among the most shocking incidents:

- In Raymah, a Houthi leader allegedly murdered and dismembered his 17-year-old wife, with suspected ties to a human organ trafficking ring.

- In Ibb, two separate murders involved a husband killing his wife and a militant murdering his stepmother.

- In Al-Jawf, a 12-year-old girl was beaten to death by her father.

- In Sanaa, a 10-year-old girl was kidnapped and raped over two days, while another child was abducted and threatened by an armed gang.

- In Amran, a young man strangled his stepmother and fled to Saada.

The rights organization warns that the absence of functioning judicial institutions and the proliferation of weapons have created an environment of lawlessness. Many criminals reportedly evade justice by seeking protection from tribal networks or influential Houthi figures.

During the first half of 2025 alone, the network recorded 123 murders and 46 injuries across 14 governorates. The report describes the rise in violence as a form of systematic terrorism that threatens civil peace and undermines social cohesion.