By Umma Muhammad Ishaq
The United Nations has condemned the Houthi administration in Yemen for placing dozens of its detained personnel on trial, describing the move as a blatant breach of international law and a threat to humanitarian operations in the war-torn country.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday that 59 Yemeni UN workers remain arbitrarily detained, some for several years, with no access to communication or due process.
“These individuals have been held incommunicado — some for years — without any semblance of legal procedure,” Dujarric said. “United Nations personnel, including those who are nationals of Yemen, are immune from legal process in respect of all acts performed by them in their official capacity.”
The detainees were reportedly referred to a Houthi-run court on allegations the UN has repeatedly dismissed as baseless. The rebels have long accused UN staff and humanitarian agencies of espionage — claims international observers say are politically motivated.
The Iran-aligned Houthi movement seized control of much of northern Yemen, including the capital, Sana’a, between 2014 and 2015, setting off a brutal civil conflict and one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Dujarric urged the group to immediately halt the court process and release the staff without conditions.
“We call on the de facto authorities to rescind the referral and work in good faith toward the immediate release of all detained personnel,” he said. “The United Nations remains committed to supporting the people of Yemen and delivering principled humanitarian assistance.”
The UN has warned repeatedly that its operations in Yemen — already constrained by insecurity and political obstruction — could be further undermined if the detentions continue.
