Elderly Man Dies Following Brutal Torture in Houthi Custody in Al-Hudaydah

A 70-year-old man has died following his abduction and subsequent torture by Houthi militants in the Zabid district of Al-Hudaydah province, sparking renewed international condemnation regarding the group's human rights record in Yemen.

The victim, identified as Qasim Salem Ahmed Qadri, a resident of Sanif Al-Ajami village, was abducted and forcibly disappeared for three days. According to human rights sources, Qadri, who suffered from hearing and vision impairments, was subjected to severe physical abuse while in detention, including brutal beatings and the extraction of his teeth and nails. He was eventually discarded in the Badwah area in critical condition and succumbed to his injuries while being transported to a hospital by local residents.

Preliminary reports indicate the incident originated at an aid distribution center in Zabid. A Houthi supervisor reportedly detained Qadri after discovering an outdated passport in his possession that contained a stamp from a Saudi entity where the victim had been employed three decades prior. Despite Qadri’s explanations regarding his past employment, the militant supervisor accused him of espionage and collaboration with the Saudi-led coalition.

The death of Qadri has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation for his family, as he was the sole provider for four children living with disabilities. Local activists and human rights organizations are now calling for an independent and transparent investigation into the circumstances of his detention and death, demanding accountability for those responsible for the torture and extrajudicial killing.

This incident fits into a broader pattern of documented arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and systemic mistreatment within Houthi-controlled detention centers. As calls for justice intensify, observers emphasize the urgent need for a forensic examination and a thorough inquiry to address the ongoing violations against civilians in the region.