The Yemeni Teachers Union has condemned what it described as a surge in abuses by the Houthi terrorist militia against teachers, educational and union leaders, students, educational institutions, and places of worship. The union warned of the repercussions on the educational process and the security and future of society. In a statement, the union reported that Taiz Governorate, particularly its districts and rural areas, has witnessed the storming of the homes of teachers and union activists, the looting of their property, and the terrorizing of their families. The statement highlighted the storming of the home of Professor Khalid Al-Qadi, a member of the union's leadership in Al-Mawasit district, and the firing of shots and vandalism of the village mosque and a Quran memorization school. It also noted the displacement of the head of the union committee in the district, Professor Abdulqader Al-Mashouli, and his family after their home was raided and its contents looted. The statement added that the abuses include the abduction and forced disappearance of teachers, and the killing of six teachers in front of their families in areas recently entered by the militia. It also pointed to attempts to impose conscription on students and push them to the front lines of combat in Al-Hajaria and other regions. The union called on the political leadership and the government to take urgent measures to protect teachers, students, and educational facilities, and to pursue and bring those involved to justice. It demanded the regular payment of teachers' salaries and dues, and urgent attention to those affected in areas of confrontation and displacement. The union also urged human rights organizations and UN bodies to document the abuses, investigate them, and exert pressure to stop them. It called on the union's branches to strengthen solidarity and support those affected, commending the efforts of the Taiz and Aden branches in delivering documents to the official responsible for transitional justice within the UN Envoy's team to Yemen. The union affirmed that protecting teachers and students, and respecting the sanctity of educational institutions and places of worship, is a national responsibility. It emphasized that documentation and legal accountability are necessary to halt the abuses and ensure that perpetrators are not absolved of punishment. |
