Houthi justice: Executing opponents through politicized judiciary

The Houthi terrorist militia has recently been issuing a large number of death sentences against civilians, accusing them of opposing the Houthi regime and its repression against the people of Yemen. As a result of these executions, a state of discontent and anger has prevailed throughout Yemen, as citizens call for speedy international intervention to stop the militia’s farce of manipulating the judiciary.

Judiciary in the hands of the militia

Before the Houthi coup, the judiciary was one of the most important pillars of the Yemeni state, but like all the foundations, anchors and pillars of the Yemeni state, it was violated and destroyed by the Houthis and has become a Houthi tool to legitimize the militia’s crimes, cover up its violations against citizens, and issue invalid judgments against everyone who opposes its policies.

Recently, the Houthis introduced flagrant amendments to the procedural code so that all courts and prosecutors in northern Yemen became subject to the militia.

Appropriation of the judiciary

The Houthi militia has appropriated the judiciary in a disastrous manner, as storming courthouses and abusing lawyers has become normal for the terrorist militia and a daily matter for lawyers.

In a statement to the Reference, Yemeni human rights journalist Mohamed Munther said that the courthouses in northern Yemen and the prosecution offices have become like markets due to the violations of the militia. The Houthis violated the courts and attacked lawyers who defend rights, since most of the lawyers present in the courts of northern Yemen are assigned to defend those who were unjustly placed in Houthi prisons on false charges.

“The second reason is that the Houthi mercenaries impose royalties on lawyers in the courthouses in exchange for continuing to carry out their work in the prosecution offices or courts, although some lawyers refuse the imposition of these royalties. The Houthis also often storm the courthouses without right and assault everyone inside,” he continued.

Politicized judiciary

The SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties has accused the Houthi militia of exploiting the judiciary and issuing politicized death sentences for a number of political activists, stressing that these sentences reflect the extent of the judiciary's exploitation in taking revenge against opponents and violating the rights of victims in light of an alarming international silence, reported Okaz.

According to Okaz, the Geneva-based rights organization said that the Houthi militia arrested a large number of young people and political activists in Sanaa and a number of governorates under its control in 2018, and they were forcibly hidden in prisons whose location is unknown. Their lawyers were prevented from visiting them to provide legal assistance, and their families were only allowed occasional visits.