Delivered by Danya Al-Thani / GICJ

On Monday, the 26th of September, Danya Al-Thani delivered an oral statement on behalf of the Association Ma’onah for Human Rights and Immigration and Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ).

She highlighted the human rights violations that the Iranian-backed Houthi militia have carried out in Yemen since 2014. She described the thousands of Yemenis subjected to arrest, kidnap, or other forms of forced disappearance by the Houthi militia, who have denied access to the basic rights that constitute a fair trial. She urged the council to urgently identify the Houthi militia as a terrorist organisation.

The methods used by the Houthi militias to control the population include torture, murder of civilians, as well as internet and media restrictions. On the 18th of September 2021, Houthis publicly executed 9 civilians in the Hodeidah governorate without access to a fair judicial process. 

On another urgent matter, she expressed our deep concern about the ongoing human rights abuses in Iran and strongly condemned the disproportionate use of force against protesters. Iran must respect the right to freedom of expression, assembly, and association. She  called on the international community, including the council, to take concrete steps to protect the protesters in Iran. 

On behalf of Ma’onah and Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ), Danya called on the international community and the Human Rights Council to take concrete steps to prevent this group from committing more grave violations in the future by imposing pressure on its leaders to end the violence and protect human rights. In addition, she emphasised that Iran must be held accountable for all its violations.

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