[13/09/2024 07:11]

ADEN-SABA
Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Muamar al-Eryani has said abducting female journalist and humanitarian activist Sahar al-Khawlani from her home by Houthi terrorist militia and forcibly disappearing her due to her coverage of the difficult living conditions faced by citizens exemplify the tragedy of Yemeni women in areas under the militia's control, and the oppressive practices and crimes against them.

"The Houthi militia previously kidnapped Samira Balah, the field coordinator for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Hodeida, Rabab al-Mudhawahi, head of the information department at the National Democratic Institute (NDI), Sarah Al-Fa'iq, executive director of the Civil Coalition for Peace, and one employee of the World Food Program (WFP), and has prevented any communication with their families until now," said al-Eryani in a statement to Saba on Thursday.

He pointed out that since their coup in 2015, the Houthi militia has abducted thousands of women from their homes, workplaces, public streets, and checkpoints, taking them to detention centers and secret prisons.

They have fabricated false charges against them and subjected them to various forms of extortion, psychological and physical torture, harassment, and sexual assault due to their political, media, and human rights activities, aiming to limit their freedom and participation in public life and to restrict their ability to move in public spaces and workplaces.

Al-Eryani called on human rights organizations and advocates for women's issues and against violence towards women to fulfill their role in condemning the ongoing Houthi violations against Yemeni women, which constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, and represent a blatant violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

He urged the international community and the United Nations to exert real pressure on the Houthi militia to force them to release all abducted and forcibly disappeared women in their illegal detention centers, who are living in tragic conditions due to harsh treatment and deprivation of health care and basic necessities of life.

He also called them to pursue those involved in these crimes and violations, starting the process of classifying the militia as a "global terrorist organization."

---