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UN Calls for Dismissal of Politically Motivated Death Sentences in Yemen

Lisa Schlein

   GENEVA - The UN Human Rights Office is calling on Yemen's Appellate
   Court to dismiss the death sentences handed down on 30 people earlier
   this week by the Houthi authorities in the capital Sana'a.

   Most of the 30 men sentenced to death are academics, students and
   politicians. The UN human rights office says they have been affiliated
   with the Islah party, a group that has been critical of the Houthis.

   The Houthi rebels, believed to be backed by Iran, have been at war with
   the Saudi-backed Government of Yemen for more than four years.

   Human rights spokeswoman, Ravina Shamdasani says the men have been
   languishing in prison since their arrest in 2016. She says they were
   charged in 2017. While they have had dozens of hearings in court since
   then, she says none has been able to present a proper defense.

   "The arrests also took place without warrants for the most part and
   they were held without being brought to a court for several months or
   up to a year in many cases'¦And suddenly, in fact it came as a surprise
   to all of us," said Shamdasani. "Suddenly on Tuesday, the court read
   out the judgement and the convictions and the sentencing."
   

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