Dr. Ali Al-Mudhwahi Appears Before Specialized Criminal Court After 800 Days of Detention

Dr. Ali Ahmed Al-Mudhwahi, who has been held in Houthi-controlled detention for over 800 days, was brought before the Specialized Criminal Court without prior notification regarding the specific charges or legal basis for his prolonged incarceration.

During a brief telephone call to his family, Dr. Al-Mudhwahi reported that he requested legal representation during his court appearance. He proposed two prominent Houthi figures, Shams al-Din Muhammad Sharaf al-Din and Muhammad Muftah, to serve as his defense counsel, invoking religious texts in his plea for justice and impartial treatment.

Dr. Al-Mudhwahi detailed the severe conditions of his confinement, which included extended periods of solitary isolation and intense psychological and physical pressure. He stated that he was coerced into providing false confessions under duress, asserting that these statements are legally void and lack any factual foundation.

Regarding the nature of the investigation, Dr. Al-Mudhwahi explained that the authorities targeted him due to his professional commitment to maintaining childhood vaccination and immunization programs in Yemen. He maintained that his advocacy for these health initiatives was driven solely by his ethical obligations and his duty to protect public health.