'Amnesty' and 'Rights Watch': Houthis threaten to execute UN staff

London – Agencies: Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch warned yesterday that the Houthi group in Yemen has, since August 18, referred at least eight human rights and humanitarian workers to criminal prosecution on espionage-related charges that could carry the death penalty. In a joint statement, the two organizations said that among those brought to trial were two United Nations staff members and a consultant for an international organization, along with five individuals who had worked with international and local civil society organizations in areas including health, human rights, and humanitarian aid. Diya Haider, Yemen researcher at Amnesty International, stated that the Houthis “have maliciously subjected at least eight UN and civil society staff members to judicial prosecution on charges that could lead to the death penalty if they are convicted,” calling for the immediate release of the Yemeni staff members to be made “a top priority for governments.” The organizations reported that the eight individuals remain detained, noting a deterioration in their health conditions. They added that all eight detainees have been denied adequate communication with their lawyers. The statement quoted family members of the detainees as saying that some had informed them that they “were forced to confess to espionage charges under torture or the threat of torture.”