Houthi-Appointed Judge Punishes Family Over Child's Altercation

A Houthi-appointed judge in Ibb has reportedly engaged in a series of retaliatory actions against a child's family, including the imprisonment of the child's father and grandfather, following a minor dispute between the child and the judge's son.

Local sources in Ibb Governorate stated that the incident began when a child, Malik Ali Abdo Yahya Al-Habishi, who assists his father in a small hardware store, was involved in a scuffle with four other children, including the son of Judge Abdulrahim Al-Obeidi, head of the West Ibb Court. Instead of resorting to customary practices or legal channels, Al-Obeidi allegedly exploited his judicial position to target the child and his family.

According to the sources, Al-Obeidi initiated his actions by imprisoning the child's father, conditioning his release on the forced exile of the child from the city to his village. After mediation efforts led to the father's release on bail, the judge reportedly became enraged and immediately ordered the arrest of the elderly grandfather, detaining him in criminal investigation custody. He insisted that the grandfather would not be released until the condition of the child's deportation was met.

The alleged abuses extended beyond the child's immediate family to the landlord who attempted to mediate the dispute amicably. In a move described as a blatant violation of all applicable laws and regulations, the judge reportedly retaliated by closing the landlord's commercial shops as an additional measure of pressure.

The incident has sparked widespread anger on social media platforms, with activists and human rights advocates viewing it as a manifestation of the security breakdown and the collapse of the judicial institution in areas controlled by the Houthi militia. They are calling for an end to the politicization of the judiciary and for Al-Obeidi to be held accountable for alleged crimes of arbitrary detention and abuse of power.

This event occurs amidst a noticeable increase in violations by Houthi leadership in Ibb Governorate, with a complete absence of oversight mechanisms and legal accountability.