Over 70 UN staff held in Houthi prisons, says Yemeni minister
Yemen’s legal affairs minister accused the Houthis of torturing a UN employee to death and called for a UN investigation into deaths in Houthi detention.
Key Takeaways
AIYemeni Minister of Legal Affairs Ishraq Al-Maqtari has accused the Houthi group of torturing a United Nations employee to death in their prisons, confirming that more than 70 UN staff members are currently being held by the group. She called on the United Nations to launch an investigation into deaths in detention and to hold those responsible accountable.
In remarks to Al Hadath TV, Al-Maqtari said the UN employee died under torture while in Houthi custody, noting that evidence of torture exists and there is no justification for ignoring it.
The minister stressed that the conditions in which UN staff are held in Houthi prisons constitute a violation of international law. She accused the United Nations of failing to protect its employees and urged the organization to investigate deaths in detention facilities.
Al-Maqtari revealed that more than 70 UN employees are currently imprisoned by the Houthis, as violations against humanitarian workers continue. She added that the group has also abducted aid workers in Taiz province.