UN Expresses 'Deep Concern' Over Houthi Trials of Its Staff

On Saturday, October 21, the United Nations and NGOs expressed their 'deep concern' regarding the referral of numerous staff members who have been 'arbitrarily detained' by Houthi rebels in Yemen to criminal prosecution, and once again called for their immediate release. The Iran-backed Houthis have detained dozens of UN and other humanitarian organization staff for months, alleging their membership in a 'spy network for the US and Israel,' an accusation that the UN denies. The number of these individuals, most of whom were detained in June of this year in Yemen, is estimated to be at least 64, including 13 UN personnel, six of whom are from the UN Human Rights Office, and 50 from NGOs. An employee of a foreign embassy is also among the detainees. The US military reported 15 attacks on Houthi positions. According to AFP, managers of UN agencies and other human rights NGOs stated in a joint statement on Sunday, October 22, that they are 'deeply concerned' about reports of the Houthis' intention to pursue criminal charges against the detainees and demand their immediate release. Tedros Adhanom, Director-General of the World Health Organization, Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Amitabh Behar, Executive Director of Oxfam International, signed this letter. The Houthis have a history of kidnapping, arbitrary detention, and torture of UN and NGO staff who traveled to Yemen to assist its people over the past decade. The Houthis, who control Sanaa, have not issued any statements regarding the detention of UN and other humanitarian organization staff in their controlled areas. Over the past year, the Houthis have targeted global shipping in regional waterways and the Red Sea in support of the extremist group Hamas, and have launched long-range missiles and suicide drones towards Israel. These attacks have severely disrupted maritime transport routes, which account for 12% of global trade, and have led to retaliatory strikes by the US and UK against Houthi targets in Yemen. In over 100 attacks over nearly a year, four sailors have been killed, and two ships sunk, while one ship and its crew have remained detained since their abduction last November.