Dragging bodies behind government vehicles
YT:
“heretics of Islam”“Government and militias are conducting sporadic searches in mosques, libraries and bookshops, confiscating any books on the Zeidi sect
Government forces have randomly destroyed villages
When these “rebels” were overwhelmed by the Government security and military forces, they were killed and their bodies were burned or dragged on official and unofficial vehicles around the city.”
Full Text below, somehow you cant get to this article through the YT archives anymore.
We herewith relate what has been told by these witnesses, some of which has been given in the opposition and independent Arab press. Although it was also known to the YT, the YT was reluctant to publicize them before, until we could have stronger faith in the revelations and the eyewitnesses that gave them:
“There were several burned charred corpses found spread throughout the city of Sa’ada after some 30 tribesmen from Bani Abid tribe reportedly launched an attack on Government outposts in the city of Sa’ada itself. When these “rebels” were overwhelmed by the Government security and military forces, they were killed and their bodies were burned or dragged on official and unofficial vehicles around the city.” Eyewitness accounts tally 19 bodies burned and no count could be obtained on the dragged bodies.
“Government and security forces would assault villages looking for “Houthi” suspects and demanded that all males are to come out and give themselves up. Because of the excess and harsh treatment of those who are apprehended, all the males vacated the villages, even though most of them have nothing to do with the “Houthis” or the “Faithful Youth” Movement of the late Hussein Badr Eddine Al-Houthi (who was killed by Government forces mid last year, when the “Houthi Rebellion” was declared officially over and done with). In one of these assaults on a village, security forces demanded that all males surrender or else the village would be destroyed. One man came out to report to the security officers that all the men had left and that he was the only one left in the village. He further asked them to allow him to get all the women and children out of the homes, if they intended to destroy the village. The security personnel told the man that the women will have to be thoroughly searched to make sure that there aren’t any men disguised among them and to make sure that no weapons were taken. Furthermore, the security personnel degradingly told the man that if they did not find the latter, then they will have a good time with the women (but said in a more vile street-like language). The man, coming from a region where morals and chivalry still are ingrained amongst the people, was furious at the despicable suggestion, took his rifle and shot down six of the security personnel. He was killed and it is not really clear what happened thereafter to the rest of the villagers.”
“Tribes around Sa’ada that were not previously involved in the insurrection are now becoming more vigilant in refusing to allow government troops and security personnel to hunt down suspected “Houthis” in their areas Government forces have randomly destroyed one or two villages, in the tribe, on mere hearsay by people who are having feuds or disputes with the tribe. Also taking advantage of the situation to settle some scores by alleging to Government forces that “Houthis” are hiding there.”
“Some doctors in Sa’ada were arrested because they were accused of treating “Houthis”. When the doctors try to explain that a doctor must treat all those who come to him for medical aid regardless of whose side they are on, he is often insulted and threatened with severe actions and some have indeed been arrested.”
“Government and militias are conducting sporadic searches in mosques, libraries and bookshops, confiscating any books on the Zeidi sect, including widely circulated books on the sayings of Ali Bin Abu Talib that is a literary Arab classic (Nahj Al-Balagha - the Crown of Eloquence) read and highly regarded by most Moslems, Shi’as and Sunnis.”
“Sermon speakers in mosques are being harassed not to mention any of the Prophet Mohammed’s (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) close of kin or heirs (through the latter’s daughter) or otherwise they will be dealt with as “heretics of Islam”. (It is worth noting that this has even reportedly occurred in other cities including Sana’a).
“The prisons are packed in Sa’ada with hundreds - some say thousands of suspected “Houthis”, most of whom do not have any clear charges against them or even have any links with the “Houthis”. Some just happen to be from the same village or neighborhood, where there might have been one or two “Faithful Youth” members, or are just relatives of a suspected “Houthi””
Some of the religious scholars in Sa’ada have been asked by the Government to refute the charges by the Shiite Houza (Religious Scholars) in Nagaf, Iraq, which reportedly (Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, April 16, 2005) issued a statement condemning the harsh treatment of Zeidis and other Shiites in Sa’ada and the “repressive persecution of the Zeidi sect throughout Yemen.” The declaration called on the international community to press Sana’a to stop the harsh treatment of Zeidis , “12 Shia Imams ” in Sa’ada in particular and the rest of Yemen in general. Sana’a’s religious scholars were reportedly asked the same thing, but they responded that the Sa’ada scholars would be more able to respond, since they do not really know what is going on in Sa’ada and the scholars in Sa’ada are closer to the events.
The Yemen Times would like to point out that all these are hard to verify or refute, because the Government is still imposing a blackout on any independent press presence in the area.
Also this link is about to expire
5/5/2005 http://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/e_default.asp
Security forces launch massive sweep against rebels in Abs district
Al-Sahwa net- Security forces Thursday launched a massive sweep against rebels affiliated to the Believing Youth Group in Abs district to the northwest of Hajja province, well-informed sources revealed.
The sources said that President Salah’s motorcade passed in the district today morning while clashes between the security forces and the insurgents were flaring up.
No casualties were reported in the confrontations, according to the sources.
They affirmed that the security forces nabbed several insurgents including a bodyguard of Badruddin Al-Houthi, father of Hussein Al-Houthi, who was butchered last year by the government troops after he led a three-month rebellion against authorities.
On the other hand, security sources said that a number of Houthi’s loyalists raided a military checkpoint in Abs district.
The sources affirmed that security forces were now launching a manhunt for the assailants.
