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Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) has expressed grave concern over the deteriorating health of Yemeni activist Sahar Al-Khawlani, who has suffered physical and psychological torture since her abduction by the Houthi militia.
Sahar Al-Khawlani was kidnapped from her home on September 10, 2024, during a raid by Houthi forces, who targeted her for her outspoken activism against the militia’s oppressive practices. As a prominent advocate for Yemeni citizens, she utilized social media to highlight their suffering, demand the payment of regular salaries for employees, and criticize widespread corruption and the dire living conditions in Yemen.
Prior to her abduction, Al-Khawlani recorded a video in which she detailed the harassment and threats she faced due to her human rights and media activism. This video was published after her kidnapping, further underscoring the risks that activists like her encounter in their fight for justice.
WJWC condemns Al-Khawlani's kidnapping and torture as a flagrant violation of international and humanitarian laws. The organization holds the Houthi militia fully responsible for her safety and demands her immediate and unconditional release, as well as urgent medical care due to her deteriorating health.
Reports from human rights organizations indicate that the Houthi militia has been engaged in serious violations against Yemeni women since 2015, with thousands of documented cases. These violations encompass kidnappings from homes, workplaces, and public streets, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, physical and psychological torture, harassment, and sexual assault.
According to a government source, the Houthi militia has kidnapped thousands of women since 2015, often fabricating charges against them to restrict their freedoms and curb their political, media, and human rights activities. Human rights reports have recorded approximately 10,156 violations against Yemeni women since 2016, including torture, arbitrary detention, harassment, and inadequate health care in illegal facilities.
WJWC emphasizes that these violations represent a clear breach of international agreements, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), international humanitarian law, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They are part of a systematic policy by the Houthi group aimed at suppressing vulnerable populations, showing blatant disregard for humanitarian and legal principles.
The organization calls on the international community and human rights organizations to take urgent action to stop the systematic violations committed by the Houthi militia against Yemeni women. WJWC also demands accountability for those responsible for these crimes to ensure justice is served and to end the culture of impunity that perpetuates such violations.
Released by:
Women Journalists Without Chains
December 9, 2024
