The escalation of child kidnappings in Houthi-controlled areas
English - Tuesday 11 January 2022 الساعة 08:27 am
Dhamar, NewsYemen, Private:
The areas under the control of the Houthi militia, the Iranian arm in Yemen, have become a fertile ground for the spread and expansion of gangs that kidnap children, and the last recorded victim was a girl who was kidnapped from Beit Mayad neighborhood south of Sanaa and was found in Dhamar Governorate.
According to human rights sources, the kidnapped girl was found in the city of Dhamar with two other girls, amid escalating fears from families living in militia-controlled areas that their children might be victims of kidnapping gangs.
According to observers, the incidents of kidnappings are supported by the leadership of the Houthi militia, which does nothing about controlling the kidnapping gangs and concealing many cases and incidents that occur in their areas of control.
There are no new statistics about these incidents in light of the militia's secrecy and concealment of the reports and cases it receives.
The annual report of the Security Council's Panel of Experts revealed that the Houthi militia had used allegations of prostitution among several methods it used to ensure that the population in areas under its control adhered to their ideology.
The report stated that the team documented nine new cases in which the Houthi militia detained, tortured, sexually abused, or oppressed politically or professionally active women who opposed their views.
The experts’ report made it clear that the Houthi militia keeps the video recordings that involve sexual bargaining to achieve its goals, as well as its continued use of pressure against any opposition intending to practice any of these opposition women.
