Iran-backed Houthis arrest dozens of female teachers

The Iran-backed Houthis have recently arrested dozens of female teachers in the areas under their control, due to their strike demanding the payment of their salaries, which have been withheld since 2016. Among those detained are dozens of female teachers, adding to the violations committed by the Houthi militia against women in Yemen. Educational sources told Khabar Agency.

According to the sources, the Houthi militias have arrested nearly 20 female teachers from their homes in Sanaa, as well as around 13 in the Ibb province, 11 in the Dhamar province, and a similar number in Hajjah province, in addition to others in the remaining provinces under their control, due to their participation in the ongoing strike in several provinces.

The sources further state that some of the detained teachers have been held for about a month, while others have been detained for three weeks. The most recent arrests occurred on October 9. The Houthi militias refuse to disclose the locations of their detention, and parents of the teachers remain silent, fearing the reputation that the militias will spread about the detainees if the parents continue to pursue the teachers cases.

The sources said that the Houthis have charged the detained male and female teachers with inciting against the state without any legal justification, which is considered a violation of human rights and women rights, as they suffer due to the aggression and provocation of the militia government.

A sister of one of the detained teachers told Khabar Agency that the Houthis informed some parents that the teachers are undergoing cultural training, according to their claims, and advised them not to follow their whereabouts to avoid any harm to the detainees.

A human rights activist who was released from Houthi prisons confirmed what the sister said.

These arrests targeted dozens of male and female teachers in Houthi-controlled areas due to their strike and demands to receive their withheld salaries since 2016, in addition to their request to halt the deterioration of the educational process in Houthi-controlled areas.