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ï»żHouthi gunmen have staged a violent raid on a peaceful gathering of Bahaâis in Sanaa, Yemen, on 25
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ăăHouthi gunmen have staged a violent raid on a peaceful gathering of Bahaâis in Sanaa, Yemen, on 25 May, detaining and forcibly disappearing at least 17 people, including five women. The raid leaves the Yemeni Bahaâis reeling from the latest blow to a severely persecuted religious community in that country. The Bahaâi International Community (BIC) calls for the immediate release of those detained.
ăăA video of the latest attack was captured by Bahaâis joining the gathering via Zoom.
ăăâAcross the Arab region we see governments striving to work toward peace, to set aside outdated social differences, promote peaceful coexistence, and to look to the future,â said Bani Dugal, the BICâs Principal Representative to the United Nations. âBut in Sanaa the de facto Houthi authorities are headed in the opposite direction, doubling down on the persecution of religious minorities, and staging brazen armed raids against peaceful and unarmed civilians. The Houthis have violated the human rights of Bahaâis and many others, time and again, and it must stop.â
ăăThe attack came as a group of Bahaâis had gathered in a private home to elect the communityâs national governing body. The move is a clear violation of the freedom of religion or belief and the right, under international covenants, to gather and conduct religious and community affairs.
ăăBahaâiâs do not have clergy and annually form councils to minister to the spiritual and material needs of their communities.
ăăThe Bahaâis in Yemen have suffered years of arrests, imprisonments, interrogations and torture, and public incitements to violence at the hands of the Houthis who have also seized Bahaâi-owned properties. Several Yemeni Bahaâis have been exiled from the country. The government has yet to dismiss a previous case against 24 Bahaâis.
ăăâEven while talks are under way to end the war in Yemen, we see the Houthi authorities continuing to engage in violent acts of persecution against their own people,â said Ms. Dugal. âThe international community must now use its leverage to compel the Houthis to respect the human rights of all Yemeni citizens, starting with the release of these 17 or more innocent Bahaâis arrested in this violent, unjustifiable raid. Yemeni Bahaâis want to serve their country, to help it overcome its current challenges, and work towards advancing its peace and prosperity. How tragic that, at this propitious moment, the Houthi authorities choose to act in this shameful way.â
ăăFor more information please contact
ăăBani Dugal, Principal Representative, EST, , +19143293020 (English)
ăăNader al-Sakkaf, CET, +352661351335 (Arabic)
ăăRuhiyyeh Thabet, CET, +352661350701 (Arabic)