The US imposed sanctions on the Houthi National Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs (HNCPA) and its leader, Abdulqader al-Murtadha, for its engagement in serious human rights abuse and in violence across the country.
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, the legitimate Yemeni government described the decision as a positive and important step toward holding accountable those who have committed heinous crimes against Yemenis.
“The sanctions affirm that the international community, led by Washington, will not tolerate crimes against civilians, journalists and activists and will not accept the brutal and inhumane treatment of prisoners,” the government said.
On Monday, the US embassy in Yemen announced that in conjunction with the recognition of International Human Rights Day, Washington imposed sanctions on one individual and one entity from Yemen under Executive Order 13818 due to their involvement in serious human rights abuses.
The sanctions target Abdulqader Hasan Yahya al-Murtadha and HNCPA for their connection to serious human rights abuse in Yemen.
According to the embassy statement, Al-Murtadha, in his role as the head of the HNCPA, has been directly implicated in torture and other forms of cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment of prisoners detained in the Houthi prison system.
It said the Houthi prison system continues to detain individuals exercising their human rights and fundamental freedoms, including journalists, human rights defenders, political opponents and UN, NGO, and US locally employed Embassy staff, among others.
The designations, the embassy statement said, aim to show solidarity with detained current and former US Embassy locally employed staff and to publicly condemn the Houthis’ perpetuation of serious human rights abuse.
The designations “also aim to put pressure on the Houthis and bolster other US government efforts to release those wrongfully detained in Houthi prisons, including our staff,” it added.
“We remain committed to promoting accountability for serious human rights abusers and denying their access to the US and international financial systems. We will continue to use these tools to promote accountability for individuals fomenting violence in Yemen, including Houthi so-called officials,” the Embassy said.
It added that unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or otherwise exempt, all transactions by US persons or within (or transiting) the US that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited.
The prohibitions include: the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.
On Tuesday, Yemen's Deputy Minister of Human Rights Majed Fadhail said the US decision is a positive and important step toward holding accountable those who have committed heinous crimes against human rights in Yemen.
