Houthis publicly execute 9 men for homosexuality in Yemen

In a recent shocking report, Amnesty International exposed the harsh sentences handed down to homosexuals by the Houthi armed forces in Yemen, in a case that once again highlights that country's gross violations of human rights. A Houthi court in Damar, Yemen, reportedly sentenced nine people to death for homosexuality, seven of whom will be stoned to death and two of whom will be crucified.

In addition, the same court sentenced 23 other men to prison terms ranging from six months to 10 years for homosexuality, "spreading immorality" and "immoral behavior". A second court in Ibbu City sentenced 13 students to death for "spreading homosexuality" and ordered three others to be flogged.

These verdicts have attracted widespread international attention and condemnation. Amnesty International's Crisis Evidence Lab analyzed videos on social media showing at least two people being whipped in public, with armed Houthi officials also present. Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Representative, Grazia Carrerasia, said that these acts were a deeply distressing and horrific public spectacle designed to spread fear among the population.

Carrerasia emphasized that the death penalty is the most cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and that its use, regardless of the method of execution, is abhorrent and should be condemned by the international community. She also pointed out that public flogging violated the absolute prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment under international law and was a cruel and inhuman punishment.

The Houthis, a tribe in northern Yemen belonging to the Zaidi minority, have been engaged in a long-running conflict with a pro-government coalition led by its northern neighbor, Saudi Arabia, since 2015 that has left hundreds of thousands dead. Since occupying the capital Sanaa in 2014, the Houthis have sentenced 350 people to death for a variety of offenses, including recent convictions for homosexuality.

Amnesty International has called on the Yemeni government to meet its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) by repealing laws that criminalize same-sex intimacy or condone discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. This incident once again highlights the importance of the ongoing struggle to protect the rights of the LGBTQ+ community on a global scale.