Yemen: Houthis Arrest Over 20 Christians, Intensify Crackdown
- Sana'a, Yemen – Houthi authorities in Yemen are facing mounting criticism following a surge in the arbitrary detention of Christians across areas under their control.
- The arrests, which began in late November and escalated around Christmas Eve, have targeted Christians in Sana'a, Ibb, and other governorates.
- “People were detained from streets, others from their houses,” one Yemeni Christian interviewed by Human Rights Watch stated.
Sana’a, Yemen – Houthi authorities in Yemen are facing mounting criticism following a surge in the arbitrary detention of Christians across areas under their control. Human Rights Watch and other rights groups report that over 20 Christians have been arrested in the last three months, with concerns growing over enforced disappearances and a broader crackdown on religious minorities.
The arrests, which began in late November and escalated around Christmas Eve, have targeted Christians in Sana’a, Ibb, and other governorates. According to sources within the Christian community, the number of detainees ranges from 21 to 24 as of , though the actual figure may be higher due to unreported cases. The National Council for Minorities in Yemen has described the campaign as a pattern of organized religious persecution.
“People were detained from streets, others from their houses,” one Yemeni Christian interviewed by Human Rights Watch stated. He described raids conducted by unidentified forces who broke down doors and made arrests without presenting warrants. Detainees have reportedly received no explanation for their detention, and families have been left without information regarding the whereabouts of their loved ones.
The situation is particularly alarming given reports that some detainees suffer from pre-existing health conditions, including heart disease and diabetes, and may be denied necessary medical care. Limited contact has been established with some detainees, with a few managing brief phone calls to their families, but the majority remain completely cut off from communication.
This latest wave of arrests comes amidst a broader pattern of detentions by Houthi authorities, encompassing UN workers, journalists, civil society members, and individuals exercising their right to free speech. The Houthis have been accused of using arbitrary detention as a tool to suppress dissent and consolidate control.
“The Houthis have made many claims that they are the champions of justice against Western oppression, and yet their continuous violations against their own people demonstrate the hollowness of these claims,” said Niku Jafarnia, Yemen and Bahrain researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Those who oppose injustice abroad should not be carrying out injustice at home.”
The Christian community in Yemen has faced increasing marginalization and persecution in recent years, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict. According to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, the Christian population has dwindled from an estimated 41,000 in 2016 to “only a few thousand” today, as many have fled the country due to insecurity and discrimination.
This is not an isolated incident of religious persecution in Yemen. Human Rights Watch has previously documented abuses against Christians, Jews, and Baha’is by both Houthi and other Yemeni authorities. In , the organization reported on the Houthis’ arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance of 17 members of Yemen’s Baha’i community, continuing a years-long pattern of systematic arrests. A Human Rights Watch report detailed the initial impacts of the conflict on the Christian community, including attacks on individuals and institutions.
The current crackdown raises serious concerns under international law. Enforced disappearances – the detention of individuals by state authorities followed by a refusal to acknowledge their fate or whereabouts – are considered serious crimes and are prohibited under both international human rights law and international humanitarian law. The actions of the Houthis also appear to contradict their stated rhetoric of religious tolerance, as highlighted by the National Council for Minorities in Yemen.
The situation in Yemen remains deeply complex, with a protracted civil war and a severe humanitarian crisis. The targeting of religious minorities adds another layer of vulnerability to an already fragile population. The international community is increasingly calling for accountability and an end to the arbitrary detention and persecution of Christians and other marginalized groups in Yemen.
The recent detentions of UN staff by Houthi rebels, reported by the Associated Press, further underscore the deteriorating security situation and the challenges facing humanitarian organizations attempting to provide aid to the Yemeni people. This escalating crackdown raises fears of a further erosion of human rights and freedoms in areas controlled by the Houthis.