Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis seize UN human rights office in Sanaa amid regional tensions – India TV

FuryIn an alarming move amid tensions in the fragile Middle East region, Yemen’s Houthi rebels stormed the headquarters of the United Nations Human Rights Office in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, seizing important documents, furniture and vehicles, a senior UN official said Tuesday. This was the latest in an offensive by the Iran-backed group against people working with the UN, aid agencies and foreign embassies.

The crackdown comes at a time when rebels, who are backed by Iran, have been attacking ships in the Red Sea corridor due to the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The rebels took control of the premises of the UN Human Rights Office in Sanaa on August 3, after forcing Yemeni UN workers to hand over their belongings, including documents, furniture and vehicles, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a statement.

“Entering a United Nations office without permission and seizing documents and property by force is totally incompatible with the privileges and immunities of the United Nations. This also constitutes a serious attack on the ability of the United Nations to fulfil its mandate, including with regard to the promotion and protection of human rights, which my Office is there to uphold,” said the High Commissioner.

“I regret that all our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. I again call, with great regret, for their immediate and unconditional release. We are doing everything possible to ensure that they are reunited with their loved ones as soon as possible. Until then, the de facto authorities must ensure that they are treated with full respect for their human rights and that they are able to contact their families and legal representatives,” Turk added in his statement, calling on the forces to leave the premises of the UN office and return all property immediately.

The UN human rights office said it had suspended operations in Sanaa and other Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen following the June crackdown. But it continues to operate in parts of Yemen controlled by the internationally recognised government. In June, the Houthis detained more than 60 people working with the UN and other NGOs.

Days after the arrest campaign, the rebels said they had arrested members of what they called an “American-Israeli spy network.” The Houthis aired what they purported to be videotaped confessions from 10 Yemenis, several of whom said they had been recruited by the U.S. embassy in Yemen. The U.N. Human Rights Office said one of its employees who was previously detained appeared on video in which he was forced to confess to allegations including espionage, the office said.

The Houthis have been fighting a civil war with Yemen’s internationally recognised government, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, since 2014, when they seized control of Sanaa and most of the north. The war in Yemen has killed more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters, with tens of thousands killed.

“It is crucial that the de facto authorities respect the United Nations and its independence, immediately release all detained UN staff and create conditions in which my Office and other UN agencies can continue their critical work for the people of Yemen without threats or obstacles,” the High Commissioner said.

(AP Agency)

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