Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) condemns in the strongest possible terms the brutal assassination of Dr. Wafa Saddam Hamid Al-Mikhlafi, who was gunned down by armed assailants in Sana’a.

This heinous act exposes the ongoing, systematic violence against civilians—particularly women—in areas under the control of the Houthi militia.

According to preliminary information, Dr. Al-Mikhlafi was attacked inside her car in the Al-Hasabah neighborhood on Friday, 31 October 2025, while returning home from a money exchange outlet. The assailants reportedly followed her, attempting to abduct her and seize the funds she carried. When she resisted, they fired at close range, killing her instantly before escaping with the stolen money.

The crime occurred in one of Sana’a’s most tightly secured zones—an area hosting the Houthi-controlled Ministry of Interior, Rescue Police, and multiple government and military installations, all surrounded by dense security checkpoints. The fact that such a brazen attack could take place in this setting raises serious suspicions of Houthi complicity, or at least of the perpetrators’ direct affiliation with the militia.

Equally alarming is the media blackout that followed the killing. Journalists and activists within Houthi-controlled areas face severe restrictions and intimidation, preventing them from documenting or reporting the incident. This enforced silence obstructs justice, conceals the truth, and reinforces the climate of impunity that has become entrenched under militia rule.

In her remarks, WJWC Head Tawakkol Karman described the killing as part of a broader pattern of chaos and impunity under the Houthi authorities. She emphasized that Dr. Al-Mikhlafi, a woman of knowledge and service, was targeted in a city where repression has become the norm and where, in her words, “killing has become easier than healing.” Karman held the de facto Houthi authorities fully responsible for the crime and for fostering an environment where fear replaces justice and life itself has lost its sanctity.

WJWC stresses that the murder of Dr. Al-Mikhlafi underscores the profound insecurity women face in conflict zones and the complete absence of effective protection for their fundamental rights. The organization reiterates that violence against women in wartime constitutes a systematic crime demanding urgent international attention and accountability.

WJWC calls for an immediate, transparent, and independent investigation, the prosecution of those responsible, and the rejection of any attempts to obscure or trivialize this atrocity.

The blood of Dr. Wafa Al-Mikhlafi will not be forgotten, and the demand for justice will persist until it is fulfilled.

May her soul rest in peace, and shame upon all who legitimize violence and perpetuate a culture of hatred and fear in Yemen.