Yemen:Armed Houthis attack Baha'i gathering in Sanaa

In Yemen, Houthi gunmen have staged a violent raid on gathering of Baha’is in Sanaa on Thursday, May 25, detaining and forcibly disappearing at least 17 people, including five women. The raid leaves the Yemeni Baha’is reeling from the latest blow to a severely persecuted religious community in that country. The Baha’i International Community (BIC) calls for the immediate release of those detained.

BREAKING#Yemen: Armed #Houthi gunmen stormed a peaceful #Bahai annual general meeting in Sanaa today, after years of persecution, detaining at least 17 including 5 women. Other homes also raided.

Yemeni Baha’is on Zoom captured this video.
Details and our statement to follow. pic.twitter.com/CbMXsz3UY9

— Baha'i International Community (@BahaiBIC) May 25, 2023

As per information, the attack came as a group of Baha’is had gathered in a private home to elect the community’s national governing body. The move is a clear violation of the freedom of religion or belief and the right, under international covenants, to gather and conduct religious and community affairs. The Baha’is in Yemen have suffered years of arrests, imprisonments, interrogations and torture, and public incitements to violence at the hands of the Houthis who have also seized Baha’i-owned properties. Several Yemeni Baha’is have been exiled from the country. The government has yet to dismiss a previous case against 24 Baha’is, it said.