Houthis Prosecute Eight Humanitarian Workers on Espionage
Houthi authorities in Yemen have sent at least eight UN and civil society workers for prosecution on espionage charges punishable by death.
At least eight humanitarian and UN workers have been transferred for prosecution on espionage-related charges punishable by death since August 2026. The group includes two United Nations employees, a UN consultant, and five people who worked with international and local civil society organizations on health, human rights, and aid. The Specialized Criminal Prosecution in Sanaa charged them with 'espionage' and 'aiding the enemy' under articles of Yemen’s Penal Code that carry the death penalty.
Systematic targeting since mid-2024
Houthi authorities have arbitrarily detained over 100 UN staff and civil society workers since May 31, 2024. As of February 2026, at least 73 UN staff and dozens of humanitarian workers remained in detention. All are Yemeni nationals. The arrests began with raids on May 31, 2024, which detained 13 UN staff and at least 50 staff from civil society groups. Many were detained without warrants. Civil society groups describe the transfers as part of a campaign of arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances. Several detainees were forcibly disappeared for months and denied adequate legal representation, family visits, and medical care.
Health risks and denial of care in detention
The health of the eight detainees facing prosecution is deteriorating. They have been denied adequate access to their lawyers. Specific medical conditions among the group include:
| Detainee | Age | Role | Health Condition | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sami Kallabi | 41 | UN employee | Cancer | Undergoing chemotherapy in a military hospital, denied family visits, location undisclosed |
| Labib Shayef | 57 | UN consultant | Diabetes, Hepatitis B | Contracted Hepatitis B in custody, allowed only one family visit in August 2025 |
| Dr. Ali Al-Mudhwahi | Not given | UNICEF consultant | Not specified | Subjected to solitary confinement, torture, and psychological pressure |
Other detainees are at risk of glaucoma or have stomach cancer and diabetes without adequate care. All remain in detention with worsening health.
Torture and forced confessions
Detainees have been subjected to torture, solitary confinement, and pressure to confess. Houthi interrogators tried to force Dr. Ali Al-Mudhwahi to state that vaccines are espionage tools and that he was a spy recruited by the World Health Organization. Family members of some detainees said they were forced to confess to espionage under torture or threats. Human rights organizations have documented the Houthis’ systematic use of torture to obtain confessions. The authorities have made vague accusations alleging the detainees had hidden goals to destroy societal values.
International legal concerns
The use of the death penalty in these cases violates international human rights law. Imposing capital punishment after unfair proceedings renders it arbitrary. International law limits the death penalty to the 'most serious crimes,' interpreted as intentional killing. None of the eight facing prosecution have been accused of intentional killing. Major human rights organizations oppose the death penalty unconditionally. This pattern is not new; since 2015, Houthi authorities have repeatedly used spying charges to target political opponents and silence dissent.
The Specialized Criminal Court in Sanaa, established in 1999, holds jurisdiction over such security-related cases. Many detentions began as enforced disappearances. On February 11, 2025, an aid worker from the World Food Programme died in Houthi custody. The eight detainees remain in detention with deteriorating health conditions while facing prosecution under charges that carry the death penalty.
