Following a demonstration in Yemen, Amnesty International reported that Houthi authorities arrested a significant number of people attending the largely peaceful event. The demonstration was held in commemoration of the 26th anniversary of Yemen’s September Revolution with participants said to be peacefully exercising their right to freedom of assembly, as reported on JURIST – News.
During the demonstration, which celebrated the establishment of the Yemen Arab Republic in 1962, protestors in the cities of Sana’a, Ibb, and Houdeidah prominently displayed Yemeni Republic flags. However, reports given to Amnesty International suggest some demonstrators were attacked by the Houthi authorities. These authorities have reportedly been branded as ‘de facto’, having violently confiscated flags and thrown rocks at demonstrators.
Amnesty International unequivocally condemned the actions of the Houthi authorities in response to the peaceful protest. The human rights organisation, tracking Houthi authority suppression of free speech since 2015, is calling for the immediate and unconditional release of those arrested. One attorney also reported to Amnesty International that the Houthi supporters were chanting slogans while confronting demonstrators.
Grazia Careccia, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, remarked on the incident stating, “It is outrageous that demonstrators commemorating a national historical moment found themselves attacked, arrested, and facing charges simply because they were waving flags. This repressive crackdown further illustrates the lengths to which Houthi de facto authorities are prepared to go to stifle free expression in areas under their control.”
Yemen has been embroiled in a conflict for the past eight years between the Houthi authorities and a coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. This prolonged conflict has led to numerous violations of international human rights and a widespread civilian harm. Currently, 80% of the population is in need of humanitarian aid, as per the United Nations, reinforcing the urgency and drastically escalating humanitarian crisis in Yemen.