Kidnapping in Yemen
On International Day for Victims of Torture: HRITC Documents 632 Cases of Kidnapping and Enforced Disappearance in Taiz During a Decade of War
Taiz – Kidnapping in Yemen
Yesterday marked the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. On this occasion, Human Rights Information and Training Center (HRITC) revealed its documentation of **632 cases of kidnapping and enforced disappearance** in Taiz Governorate between March 21, 2015, and March 2025.
The Center’s human rights team clarified that the Houthi militia committed **492 of these violations**, including **3 mass abduction incidents** involving two children among the victims.
The Center also recorded **82 cases** perpetrated by out-of-state armed groups, while **29 cases** were attributed to individuals and factions of the government forces—including one case involving a woman.
Additionally, **15 cases** were committed by unidentified gunmen, and **14 cases** were linked to the Joint Forces—one of which was attributed to the Giants Brigade (Al-Amalikah Forces).
Arrests and Deaths:
– 73 civilians were arrested** (55 arrests, including 20 women), with **3 mass arrests** documented.
– Government army personnel carried out **12 arrests**, including one mass arrest.
– Unidentified gunmen arrested **3 civilians**.
– The Joint Forces (affiliated with Tariq Saleh) committed **2 arrests**, while out-of-state gunmen carried out **1 arrest**.
Deaths Under Torture:
– 15 civilians** (including two children) were killed among the abducted and detained.
– One detainee committed suicide** due to brutal torture in Houthi prisons.
– Two civilians** died under torture in out-of-state prisons.
– Three others** were killed in prisons run by government army factions.
HRITC emphasized that these figures represent only a portion of a broader and more severe reality, as many violations remain undocumented due to war conditions, security restrictions, and threats by Houthi militias against victims’ families.
Recommendations to the International Community:
1. Exert pressure** on conflict parties in Yemen to comply with international humanitarian law and human rights principles.
2. Launch independent international investigations** into crimes of enforced disappearance and torture, and hold perpetrators accountable.
3. Support local protection and monitoring mechanisms** and enhance the capabilities of civil society organizations working in human rights.
4. Provide psychological and legal support programs** for victims and their families, and intensify efforts to reveal the fate of the forcibly disappeared.
The Center affirmed that **achieving justice and holding perpetrators accountable** are fundamental steps toward sustainable peace and breaking the cycle of impunity in Yemen.
Key Translation Notes:
1. **Terminology Precision:**
– “إخفاء قسري” → “enforced disappearance” (standard UN term).
– “مليشيا الحوثي” → “Houthi militia” (consistent with international reporting).
– “خارج إطار الدولة” → “out-of-state” (denoting non-state/unofficial actors).
– “دوامة الإفلات من العقاب” → “cycle of impunity” (established legal phrase).
