Armed Tribal Gathering in Arhab Denounces Houthi Abuses, Demands Security Leadership Ouster

Hundreds of armed men from the Arhab district, north of Sanaa, convened a tribal meeting on Thursday to address alleged abuses by Houthi-affiliated security agencies against residents, notably the storming of a citizen's home.

During the gathering, Sheikh Abduljalil bin Abdulwahab Sinan, one of Arhab's sheikhs, accused the Houthi-appointed director of district security of violating the sanctity of the home of a tribal member named Hazeb. He stated that security elements forcibly entered the residence at night and, according to his account, assaulted the homeowner and his children in front of his wife, an incident that has caused widespread discontent among the local population.

Protesters also accused the Houthi militia of arbitrary detentions. They highlighted that citizens are being held in the Arhab security administration's prison for civil cases, with detentions lasting one to two months without referral to the competent prosecution. The aim, they alleged, is financial extortion and the imposition of illegal sums.

The attendees demanded accountability for the Houthi leadership within the Arhab district's security administration and called for changes in its management. They urged an end to what they described as transgressions and violations against the people of Arhab, and called for respect for legal procedures and citizens' rights.