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February 19, 2025 – Yemen –
Yemeni journalist Abdulkhaliq Imran has opened up about the brutal torture he endured during eight years of detention by Houthi forces. Imran’s testimony sheds light on the harsh realities faced by thousands of detainees in Houthi-controlled prisons across Yemen. He described being confined in a small, dark cell where he was subjected to repeated beatings, flogging, and forced suspension from the walls. Psychological torture was equally severe: prisoners were relentlessly bombarded with recordings of Houthi clerics denouncing them as “enemies of God.” These tactics aimed not only to break the body but also the spirit of those held captive.
Imran explained that the Houthis targeted journalists and activists perceived as threats to their rule or ideology. Torture was not about gathering intelligence but about crushing dissent and instilling fear. Many detainees, including women, children, and elderly people, have suffered severe abuses, with some dying from injuries sustained during captivity.
The Yemeni Coalition for Monitoring Human Rights Violations reports that over 1,600 people, including 109 children and dozens of women and elderly detainees, have faced torture in Houthi prisons across at least 17 provinces. Conditions are deplorable, with overcrowding, lack of medical care, and routine abuse common. Survivors often carry lasting physical disabilities and psychological trauma.
International human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have condemned the Houthis for these violations of international law. Amnesty’s reports emphasize the challenges survivors face upon release, including social stigma and lack of support, which sometimes forces them to flee Yemen for safety.
Despite the risks, many former detainees, including Imran, are actively seeking justice through legal channels to hold Houthi commanders accountable for their crimes. Their courage highlights the resilience of Yemen’s oppressed journalists and activists and stresses the urgent need for global awareness and action to end these abuses and protect human rights in the ongoing conflict.
Reference –
AP investigation reveals torture in Yemen’s Houthi rebel prisons
