Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) strongly condemns the heinous crime committed by the Houthi militia against civilians in the city of Ibb, central Yemen.

This attack, which involved storming a residential building, terrorizing women and children, and smashing and looting its contents, is a flagrant violation of human rights and international law.

According to information received by the organization, a Houthi-led campaign under the command of Abu Ahmed Al-Asri, and directed by the office of the Ibb Governorate Security Director, known as "Abu Jihad," stormed a residential building belonging to the family of Mahboub Ali Al-Salami on Sunday, December 15, 2024. During this violent raid, the building was vandalized, doors were broken, women and children were terrorized, and the property was looted, all as part of an effort to seize the property by force.

Eyewitness accounts, which the organization has kept confidential to protect their safety, reveal that this attack is part of a broader scheme led by Al-Asri to confiscate a plot of land adjacent to Al-Salami’s home. The land, owned by the Al-Salami family, was targeted to build an illegal gas station in collusion with another Houthi leader, Rayan Naaman Ayed. After Al-Salami refused to surrender the property, he was detained by the militia for five days before being released. Subsequently, the Houthi militia resorted to armed force to seize the property, in direct violation of property rights and international laws.

In an attempt to legitimize the seizure, Houthi leader Abu Ahmed Al-Asri placed a banner on the building bearing the name "The Great Prophet Association," misleading public opinion and masking the illegal confiscation. The militia also kidnapped Mansour Mahyoub Ahmed Al-Salmi, a relative of the homeowner, whose fate remains unknown, further escalating the severity of this crime.

The organization has reviewed video footage published by Mahboub Al-Salami on Facebook, showing the Houthi militia besieging his home in preparation for the raid. The video portrays the use of armed force to terrorize residents and seize property. Additionally, photographic evidence shows the militia raising a banner on the building to falsely legitimize the theft.

Women Journalists Without Chains affirms that these actions constitute a blatant violation of numerous international laws, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right to life, liberty, and personal security under Article 3. Furthermore, these violations contravene international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions, which safeguard civilians and their property during times of conflict and prohibit the unlawful seizure of property or use of armed force against unarmed populations.

Such acts can be classified as "crimes against humanity" and "war crimes" under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998), particularly for the systematic intimidation of civilians and the unlawful appropriation of property. This crime is part of a broader pattern of violations by the Houthi militia in Ibb Governorate, which have escalated significantly in recent months. These include killings, kidnappings, looting, and the forcible confiscation of property, underscoring the urgent need for action to protect civilians from these egregious abuses.

Women Journalists Without Chains calls on the international community and human rights organizations to take swift action to hold those responsible for these violations accountable under international law and ensure justice is served. It urges the United Nations to document these crimes as part of the ongoing violations of international humanitarian law in Yemen. Additionally, it calls for the immediate release of Mansour Mahyoub Ahmed Al-Salmi and the return of all confiscated property to its rightful owners.

The organization underscores the critical need to halt the Houthi militia's violations in Ibb Governorate. These actions present a serious threat to civilian safety and security, eroding justice and the rule of law. Women Journalists Without Chains firmly asserts that impunity must not prevail. Ultimately, justice will triumph, and the perpetrators will be held accountable under international and humanitarian law.

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Women Journalists Without Chains

December 17, 2024