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Houthi authorities refer UN and aid workers for prosecution in Yemen
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have reported that Houthi authorities in Yemen have referred at least eight humanitarian and human rights workers for criminal prosecution. The individuals, including two United Nations employees and a UN consultant, face charges of espionage and aiding the enemy, which carry the death penalty under Yemeni law.
One specific case involves Dr. Abdul Nasser Al-Rabai, a senior immunization official for the World Health Organization, who was transferred to the Specialized Criminal Prosecution in Sanaa after more than 27 months of detention. His referral is reportedly linked to investigations regarding vaccination programs.
The human rights organizations described these prosecutions as an escalation in a crackdown on civil society. They noted that since May 31, 2024, more than 100 UN staff and civil society workers have been arbitrarily detained. Reports indicate that many detainees have been denied access to legal counsel and their families, and some have allegedly been forced to confess under torture. The organizations also highlighted the deteriorating health of those in custody, noting the death of a World Food Programme aid worker in February 2025 while in Houthi detention.
Entities
Abdul Nasser Al-Rabai · Amnesty International · Dr. Abdul Nasser Al-Rabai · Houthi · Houthi militia · Human Rights Watch · United Nations · World Health Organization
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] An aid worker from the World Food Programme died in Houthi custody in February 2025. www.albiladpress.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Dr. Abdul Nasser Al-Rabai, a senior WHO immunization official, was transferred to the Specialized Criminal Prosecution in Sanaa. www.khbr.me
- [● 3 SOURCES] Detainees have been denied access to lawyers and their families. www.albiladpress.com · yemenonline.info · www.hrw.org
- [● 3 SOURCES] Houthi authorities have referred at least eight humanitarian and human rights workers for criminal prosecution. www.albiladpress.com · yemenonline.info · www.hrw.org
- [● 3 SOURCES] The charges against the workers include espionage and aiding the enemy, which carry the death penalty. www.albiladpress.com · yemenonline.info · www.hrw.org
- [● 3 SOURCES] More than 100 UN and civil society workers have been arbitrarily detained by Houthi authorities since May 31, 2024. www.albiladpress.com · yemenonline.info · www.hrw.org