Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch stated on Monday that the de facto Houthi authorities in Yemen have referred at least eight individuals working in human rights and humanitarian fields to the Specialized Criminal Court on espionage charges since August 18, 2026. These charges carry the death penalty. Among those prosecuted are two United Nations employees, one UN consultant, and five individuals who collaborated with international and local civil society organizations across sectors including health, human rights, and humanitarian aid.
The organizations called for an immediate halt to these prosecutions and the unconditional release of the eight individuals referred to the prosecution, as well as dozens of other UN staff and civil society workers arbitrarily detained by the Houthis over the past two years. This legal action represents the latest intensification of a crackdown on civil society in areas under Houthi control, following waves of arrests targeting Yemenis working with the UN and NGOs since May 31, 2024.
Houthi forces have arbitrarily detained more than 100 such employees without charging them, denying access to lawyers and families. Many cases began with enforced disappearance, a practice where detention is denied or concealed, placing victims outside legal protection. Diya Haydar, Amnesty International researcher for Yemen, emphasized that with renewed fighting, the Houthis are maliciously prosecuting staff with charges that could lead to execution. She urged governments to prioritize the immediate release of these Yemeni employees.
Both organizations interviewed seven people with direct knowledge of the cases, including family members. The eight individuals remain detained with deteriorating health conditions. At least two suffer from diabetes without adequate care, one faces risks of glaucoma, and another is undergoing chemotherapy for stomach cancer while in custody. Families reported that detainees were forced to confess under torture or threat. Since 2015, Amnesty has documented numerous instances where Houthi authorities used espionage charges to target political opponents and silence peaceful dissent, often extracting confessions through torture.
Nico Jafarnia, Middle East and North Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, condemned the risk of execution for providing medical and food aid or advocating for human rights. She stressed the need for intensified diplomatic efforts to secure the release of dozens of detained civil society workers and UN staff, particularly given attacks on prisons during the conflict. Both organizations noted that imposing the death penalty without fair trial guarantees violates international law, which restricts capital punishment to the “most serious crimes,” typically interpreted as intentional homicide. None of the accused are charged with such acts.
The eight individuals face charges of “espionage” and “aiding the enemy” under Articles 127 and 128 of the Yemeni Crimes and Penalties Law, both punishable by death. Prosecutors alleged vague accusations regarding their humanitarian and human rights work, claiming they had “hidden and malicious objectives” to “destroy societal values.” The Specialized Criminal Court in Sanaa, established in 1999, handles security-related crimes and has been used as a tool for political suppression as Houthi control over territory solidified.
All eight detainees have been denied adequate communication with their lawyers. Sami Al-Kilabi, 41, a former UN worker arrested on June 6, 2024, suffers from cancer and receives chemotherapy in a military hospital but is denied family visits and his location remains undisclosed. Labib Shaif, 57, a consultant arrested on the same date, has endured severe health decline, contracting Hepatitis B and suffering from diabetes with insufficient care. He was interrogated about his work on gender and peacebuilding programs.
Safia Muhammad, wife of Dr. Ali Al-Madhwahi, told Human Rights Watch that her husband, a UNICEF consultant and advisor to the Houthi Ministry of Public Health, was subjected to solitary confinement, torture, and psychological pressure. Authorities allegedly pressured him to claim vaccines were spying tools and that he was recruited by the World Health Organization. Since May 31, 2024, the Houthis have arbitrarily detained 13 UN staff and at least 50 civil society workers. By February 2026, at least 73 UN employees and numerous humanitarian workers remained in custody. The death of a World Food Programme relief worker in February 2025 heightened concerns over the safety of detainees amid reports of torture.
This report was produced by the HuMedia newsroom.
