Houthi Forces Intensify Seizures of Private Property Through Judicial System

The Houthi militia has escalated its campaign to seize private property through judicial and administrative decrees in recent days, sparking widespread public discontent. The group stands accused of weaponizing the judiciary to assert control over homes, agricultural lands, and real estate as part of a systematic policy aimed at redistributing assets to loyalist officials and influential figures.

In Al Hudaydah Governorate, a Houthi-controlled court issued a ruling ordering the eviction of dozens of families from their homes in the Al Corniche area. These families have resided in the properties for over fifty years, but the court's decision was based on a property claim by a family known as "Beit Sujawa."

Local residents confirmed that the ruling paves the way for an investment project in the area intended for Houthi leaders and influential individuals. They warned of the displacement of numerous families who lack alternative housing and expressed concern over the absence of any solutions or compensation.

Meanwhile, in Dhamar Governorate, the Houthi militia has initiated what are described as the broadest confiscation measures against citizens' property in the Wusab Al-Ali district. This action involves the activation of the so-called "judicial trustee" system, based on a decision from the Wusab Al-Ali Primary Court.

According to official documents, 32 legal custodians from various villages and hamlets within the district have been appointed as "judicial trustees" for the estate of a deceased individual. These trustees have been granted broad powers, including oversight of agricultural lands, plantations, homes, and rental income from shops and markets. They are also obligated to regularly remit the proceeds from these assets and crops to the court's treasury.

Local sources indicated that the militia is leveraging old cases, some dating back to before the establishment of the republic, to reopen ownership disputes and provide a legal veneer for intervention and control over citizens' assets. Residents of Wusab Al-Ali condemned the decision, asserting that the targeted areas contain private properties documented and inherited across generations, with no contested endowments or public funds to justify these actions. They added that the widespread application of this decision across numerous hamlets and villages suggests an intent to impose financial oversight on citizens' property and forcibly collect revenues from farms and crops.

These developments occur amidst recurring accusations that the Houthi militia utilizes the judicial system under its control to legitimize the appropriation of private lands, real estate, and funds. Human rights reports indicate a surge in such practices in recent years, targeting opponents of the militia and citizens within its controlled territories, thereby intensifying concerns about the expanding scope of private property confiscation under politicized judicial pretexts and rulings.