Yemeni Parliamentary Blocs Condemn Houthi Hostilities

Yemeni parliamentary blocs condemned the ongoing violations and crimes committed by Houthi militias against the people and public institutions, especially those which recently targeted the war-torn country’s legislative body and lawmakers.

Houthi gunmen had stormed the parliamentary building in Sanaa and chased down and arrested lawmakers. Some deputies were placed under house arrest whilst others were taken as hostages.

“Following President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi's call to hold Parliamentary sessions in Hadramout, terrorist Houthi militias have stepped up their violations against the MPs' properties and families in the capital Sanaa,” a statement by the blocs read, according to the official Saba news agency.

“On Wednesday, militiamen stormed the houses of lawmakers in Sanaa. MPs Sultan al-Baraki, Rabish Ali Wahban, Sultan Al-Atwani, Sakher al-Wajeeh were among those targeted. Houthis broke into their houses, terrorized their families, including women and children, forcibly evicted them from their own homes and looted their assets,” the statement added.

The parliamentary blocs behind the statement were the Independents’ bloc and the Free People bloc. They are formed by the following Yemeni parties: the former ruling General People Congress (GPC), Yemeni Congregation for Reform, the Yemeni Socialist Party, the Nasserite Union Party, the Justice and Development Party, and the National Solidarity Party.

More so, the statement urged the Inter-Parliamentary Union and fellow parliaments worldwide to condemn Houthi abuses and voice their support for Yemen’s state institutions.

“Houthi hostility continues to prove the group’s animosity towards the Yemeni people, its bid to destroy the county’s social fabric and pillars, and its unwillingness to achieve peace,” it added whilst saying, time and time again, Houthis have put to display their commitment to aggression.

The blocs also slammed Houthi aggression as a direct provocation to peacemaking efforts and aim to undermine the peace process backed by the international community and the United Nations. As for lawmakers attending the parliamentary session this Saturday, they were praised for standing by constitutional legitimacy.

International parties, especially the UN and its Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths were urged to weigh in on bringing Houthi atrocities to a halt and enforce UN resolution 2216 which demands an end to Yemen’s violence.