Sana’a — Houthi militias have initiated the trial of 13 abductees in the capital Sana’a, accusing them of espionage in collaboration with U.S. intelligence agencies. 

The proceedings come just days after the group conducted expedited trials of 19 detainees, sentencing 17 of them to death on similar charges frequently leveled against the militia’s opponents.

According to human rights sources, among those currently on trial are three former employees of the U.S. Embassy in Yemen and six staff members affiliated with United Nations agencies and organizations. 

These individuals have remained in Houthi custody for years without legal justification or access to basic rights, including fair trial guarantees and family contact.

Rights groups have condemned the trials as politically motivated and lacking due process, warning that such actions deepen the climate of fear in areas under Houthi control.

The latest trials underscore the militia’s escalating campaign against perceived opponents, raising alarm among international organizations over the safety of humanitarian workers and former diplomatic staff. 

Calls are mounting for urgent international pressure to secure the release of detainees and halt arbitrary prosecutions.