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Houthi Court in Sanaa Sentences 17 to Death for Alleged Spying for Foreign Powers

The U.N. condemned the verdicts as unfounded, calling for the detainees’ immediate release.

Overview

  • The Houthi-run Specialized Criminal Court said the defendants belonged to espionage cells tied to American, Israeli, Saudi and British intelligence, ordering execution by public firing squad.
  • Two additional defendants received 10-year prison terms and one person was acquitted in the same case.
  • Defense lawyer Abdulbasit Ghazi said the verdicts can be appealed.
  • Some outlets reported the condemned were Yemeni staff of U.N. aid agencies, a characterization the United Nations disputes as it rejects the spying claims and demands releases.
  • Houthi media alleged the accused shared leaders’ movements, missile data and helped recruit citizens, assertions not independently verified by outside sources.