The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) has documented numerous human rights violations in Yemen over the past month and a half, committed by parties to the ongoing conflict. These violations include the arrest of a prominent human rights lawyer, the continued targeting of journalists, media professionals, and other activists, and the imposition of severe restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

Prominent human rights lawyer Abdulmajeed Sabra arrested

On 15 September 2025, an armed group affiliated with the Houthi group arrested prominent human rights lawyer Abdulmajeed Sabra after storming his office in the Shamila area of the capital, Sana’a, and taking him to an unknown location (the main photo above).

Press reports indicated that the reason for his arrest was a post he published on his Facebook page on 24 September 2024, in which he emphasised the need to commemorate 26 September 1962, the anniversary of the declaration of the Republic in Yemen, a date which the Houthi group opposes celebrating.

Sabra is one of the most prominent lawyers defending prisoners of conscience in Yemen. He uses his Facebook page to express his personal views and defend the civil and human rights of citizens in Yemen.

Woman responsible for cleaning fund in Taiz assassinated

On 18 September 2025, Iftihan Al-Mashhari, 45 years old, the director of the Cleaning and Improvement Fund in Taiz Governorate, was assassinated after gunmen fired 20 bullets at her as she drove through Sinan Street in the city centre, before fleeing. Taiz is under the control of the internationally-recognised government.

This heinous crime was condemned by all segments of Yemeni society, regardless of their city or affiliation. The city of Taiz witnessed several massive public demonstrations in the days following the assassination, including one which began on 21 September 2025 with the participation of tens of thousands of residents of the city and its countryside. Protesters demanded that the perpetrators be arrested and brought to trial; the public disclosure of the circumstances of the crime and all parties involved; and an end to the series of assassinations, the state of security chaos, and impunity.

On 24 September 2025, Taiz Governorate police announced the death of the main suspect in the assassination, Mohammed Sadiq Al-Mikhlafi, during a clash with a security force intending to arrest him. His death sparked fear among many residents, who viewed it as a suspicious liquidation that would help local authorities cover up the other parties involved in planning and executing the operation.

Poet and writer Oras Al-Eryani and journalist Majed Zaid arrested

On the evening of 22 September 2025, poet and writer Oras Al-Eryani (pictured left) left his home in the Sawan neighborhood of Sana’a and did not return. Contact with him has been lost since then. Local sources confirmed that an armed group affiliated with the Houthi group kidnapped him and took him to an unknown location. Press reports indicated that his arrest came after he published a post mocking 21 September, the day the Houthis took power in 2014.

Al-Eryani is a young poet and writer known for his satirical style. His first poetry collection, “Sitting on the Eye or Standing,” was published in 2024. He is also active on social media, expressing his views on public affairs in his writings, and enjoys a wide following among citizens.

On the same day, several hours after Al-Eryani’s arrest, Houthi gunmen arrested journalist Majed Zaid (pictured right) after he left a medical centre in Sana’a, and transferred him to an unknown location. According to press sources, his arrest is linked to the security forces’ persecution of citizens, including activists, who attempted to commemorate 26 September on social media or by raising the national flag.

Judge Abdulwahab Qatran’s brother and son subjected to enforced disappearance

On 24 September 2025, Judge Abdulwahab Qatran posted an urgent notice on his Facebook page to local and international human rights organisations, announcing the enforced disappearance by the Houthi group of his brother, Arif Qatran, and his son, Abdulsalam, on 21 September 2025. Their home was raided by forces loyal to the de facto government in Sana’a, the Houthi group, without any judicial warrants and they were not told of the charges against them. Judge Qatran said they were “detained in the Hamdan Security Complex prison for only one day,” and that his brother maintained “limited contact with us via a prisoner’s phone. In his last contact, on the afternoon of 22 September 2025, he confirmed that he was suffering from serious health conditions. He suffers from a severe curvature of the spine and neck, chronic stomach problems and irritable bowel syndrome, and persistent vomiting and convulsions. He had previously traveled to India for treatment in 2019. He confirmed that he could not tolerate the prison conditions and requested urgent action for his release.”

Informed local sources confirmed that the reason for their arrest was their celebration of the 26 September anniversary.

Journalist Fathi Bin Lazraq briefly arrested and newspaper closed

On 27 September 2025, journalist and editor-in-chief and owner of Aden Al-Ghad newspaper Fathi Bin Lazraq, announced his arrest in a post on his Facebook page. The post received widespread support from his colleagues and the general public, exceeding 38,000 users and more than 1,200 shares.

A security force affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council raided the headquarters of Aden Al-Ghad newspaper and forcibly closed it without prior warning. Bin Lazraq was arbitrarily arrested. He was released after hours of detention at Kabota Police Station in Aden.

In a video, he spoke about the details of the targeting of his newspaper, confirming that the reason for his arrest was his publication in the paper about financial levies being illegally collected in Aden.

Journalist Naseh Shaker remains forcibly disappeared

GCHR previously documented the disappearance of journalist Naseh Shaker on 19 November 2023, while passing through Aden International Airport to participate in a training course on journalists’ safety and first aid organised in Beirut by the Samir Kassir Foundation. However, he did not board the flight from Aden to Cairo en route to Beirut.

His last contact with his family occurred on the morning of his disappearance, when he spoke to his mother. After that, contact with him was completely lost, and no information has been obtained about him despite ongoing efforts by his family and colleagues, as well as appeals from local and international human rights organisations.

Some local sources told GCHR that they believe the Southern Transitional Council, which controls security in Aden, has arrested him and detained him in one of its secret prisons.

Shaker is a freelance journalist based in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a. He regularly contributed articles to numerous international news outlets, focusing on the humanitarian costs of the war on innocent children and civilians in Yemen.

GCHR once again expresses its grave concern over the disappearance of journalist Naseh Shaker, who has been missing for over 22 months. GCHR holds the Southern Transitional Council responsible for announcing his whereabouts and protecting his life.

Recommendations

Once again, GCHR urges the parties to the conflict in Yemen to:

1. Immediately release all those who have been arbitrarily arrested, detained, or tried on fabricated charges;
2. Respect public freedoms, including freedom of the press and the right to peaceful assembly; and
3. Ensure that human rights defenders, including journalists, bloggers, academics and internet activists, are able to carry out their legitimate work and express themselves freely without fear of reprisal and in a manner free from all restrictions, including judicial harassment.