Houthi Militias Kidnap Journalist and Activists Ahead of Revolution Anniversary

Houthi militias in Sana’a have kidnapped author and journalist Mohammad al-Mayahi, days after he wrote a piece criticizing the militia and its leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi.

Local sources reported that the militias raided al-Mayahi’s house, confiscating his phone and computer before taking him to an unknown destination. This incident is part of a larger kidnapping operation targeting political leaders and activists who reject the militia’s projects and call for the celebration of the revolution’s anniversary on September 26.

Al-Mayahi had previously criticized the militia on the radio, urging them to reject their sectarian project and resist it by all means possible.

In a similar incident, the Houthi militia abducted activist Yahya al-Jashani in the city of Ibb, a day after Sheikh Amin bin Hassan Rajeh, one of Ibb’s sheikhs, was abducted after his home in Sana’a was stormed.

Since the start of this month, Houthi militias have launched a mass kidnapping campaign in several governorates to prevent any popular celebrations on the September 26 anniversary of the revolution, which the militias fear will turn into a popular movement.

The government has described the Houthi abduction campaign targeting Congress party leaders and workers as a dangerous escalation against the backdrop of their call to celebrate the revolution’s anniversary on September 26.

Information Minister Muammar al-Irani condemned the kidnappings carried out by militias against political leaders, journalists, and activists, with the aim of terrorizing them, preventing them from conveying information to the public, and discouraging them from taking up the people’s problems and demands.

Al-Irani called on the international community, the United Nations, UN envoys, and human rights organizations to condemn these criminal practices and put pressure on the Houthi militias to release all abducted and forcibly detained individuals.