LONDON: Human Rights Watch has urged the Houthi group to release a Yemeni judge, Abdulwahab Qatran, who was detained for criticizing them on social media.
Qatran was arrested on January 2 in Sanaa after condemning Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea. His son, Mohammed, revealed on the same platform that Houthi security forces entered their home, detained and interrogated them for hours, and then arrested Qatran, taking him to a secure location.
Niku Jafarnia, a researcher at HRW, stated that while the Houthis portray themselves as defenders of Palestinians in Gaza, they are suppressing Yemenis who criticize them.
She said that the focus should be on addressing the humanitarian needs of people in Houthi territories rather than silencing dissent.
Qatran’s family learned about his whereabouts on January 5 through a family friend who contacted the Security and Intelligence Department. Only Mohammed was allowed to visit him once. The family had their phones and computers confiscated, and the Houthis falsely claimed they were arrested for alcohol-related charges.
HRW dismissed these allegations, asserting that Qatran’s arrest was due to his criticism of the Houthi group.
HRW cited a statement from a Security and Intelligence Department official, comparing the situation to dealing with a bothersome rooster. Qatran, a well-known Houthi critic, had previously posted on social media on December 31, stating, “You (Houthis) are not entitled on behalf of Yemenis to fight anyone, do you understand?!”
