The United States designated the officials from the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen to its blacklist Thursday to mark International Human Rights Day.
Five security officials of the Houthis, including Sultan Zabin, the director of the so-called Criminal Investigation Department in Sanaa. Other members are Abdul Hakim al-Khaiwani, Abdul Rahab Jarfan, Motlaq Amer al-Marrani and Qader al-Shami.
"The country´s various Houthi-controlled security and intelligence agencies have committed serious human rights abuse, engaging in the prevailing practice of the arbitrary detention and torture of its citizens," the Treasury said.
Students, women, human rights activists, journalists, humanitarian workers, perceived political opponents and members of the Bahai community have been targeted, illegally arrested and mistreated in detention centers run by these various agencies, it added.
The targeted Houthis are designated pursuant to the Global Magnitsky E.O. for being foreign persons who are leaders or officials of an entity that has engaged in, or whose members have engaged in, serious human rights abuse relating to their tenure.
"As we recognize International Human Rights Day, the United States stands with innocent civilians around the globe who have been victims of violence and oppression," said Treasury Deputy Secretary Justin Muzinich in a statement.
