New Death Sentences in Sana’a: Houthi Judiciary Turns into a Tool of Repression

2026-01-08 08:18:23

Sana’a – Houthi militias in Yemen have escalated their use of capital punishment, issuing new death sentences against nine detainees in Sana’a on charges of espionage and collaboration with foreign states accusations widely condemned as fabricated.

In two separate sessions held Wednesday by the Houthi-controlled Special Criminal Court, the defendants were sentenced to execution by firing squad in Al‑Sab’een Square, in front of the public.

The Houthi prosecution claimed the accused operated between 2021 and 2025 within a broad espionage network, meeting foreign intelligence officers in Arab capitals, receiving training in surveillance, encrypted communication, and the use of tracking devices to photograph military and security sites.

The rulings have sparked widespread human rights concerns, with critics accusing the Houthis of weaponizing the judiciary to eliminate opponents, intimidate dissenters, and instill fear across society. Hundreds of detainees remain at risk of facing similar sentences.