Jemen: vier Baha'i weiterhin willkürlich in Haft

Dear Mohamed Abdelsalam,

While I welcome the release of human rights activist, Abdullah al-Olofi – although he should have never been detained in the first place – I am extremely concerned about the remaining four detained Bahai individuals Abdul’elah Muhammad al-Boni, 30, Hassan Tariq Thabet al-Zakari, 28, Muhammad Bashir Abdel Jalil, 25, and Ibrahim Ahmad Jo’eil, 49, and I demand their immediate and unconditional release. 

On 25 May 2023, Huthi armed forces stormed a peaceful gathering of the Baha’is in a private residence in Sana’a and arbitrarily detained 17 people, including five women. They forcibly disappeared them for around four months until their families learned they were being held at Huthi-run security and intelligence centres in Sana’a. Between June 2023 and June 2024, 13 individuals, including all five women, were released following international pressure. The remaining four detainees are held without charge and denied their right to legal counsel. 

According to credible sources, the Huthis conditioned the release of all 13 Baha’is upon securing a guarantor and the payment of a "commercial guarantee". In addition, some of those released, including Abdullah al-Olofi, were forced to sign pledges that they will refrain from engaging in Baha’i related activities or they will denounce their religion in a flagrant violation of their right to freedom of religion and belief. 

I am also concerned that the remaining Baha’i individuals in custody are at risk of further violations, including torture and other-ill treatment. Amnesty International has documented the cases of dozens of journalists, human rights defenders, activists, academics, members of the Baha’i religious minority and others perceived as opponents or critics of the Huthis who were subjected to arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearance, torture and other ill-treatment and unfair trials with recourse to the death penalty by the Huthi de facto authorities. All were targeted for peacefully exercising their human rights including their rights to freedom of expression, association and belief.

I therefore call on the Huthi de facto authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all four Baha’i detainees in their custody. I also call on the authorities to end all forms of discrimination and persecution of the Baha’i minority and all others who are targeted solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights including to freedom of religion and belief.

Yours sincerely,