Yemeni campaign to save woman from execution by Houthis
Lawyers and activists in Yemen launched a social media campaign to save the life of a 23-year-old woman sentenced to death by the Houthi rebels.
Asmaa Al Omaisi, a mother of two, was arrested with her father and two men in October 2016 while travelling from Ibb governorate to the capital, Sanaa, according to activists.
Her father was later released. But she and the two men were sentenced to death last week by the Iran-backed militia for allegedly spying for the Arab coalition, which is fighting the rebels on behalf of the internationally recognised government. A third man was sentenced to 15 years in jail.
According to one activist, Hayat, Ms Al Omaisi was tortured at the prison where she was held to force a confession.
She would also be questioned late at night and forbidden to sleep, Hayat tweeted.
People on social media were using the hashtag #SaveAsmaaAlOmaisi to get the attention of international human rights groups and media.
“We are sending out an appeal to all humanity and human rights defenders to save Asmaa before [the Houthis] execute her,” Noor Surib, an activist, told The National.
Elsewhere on Friday, the Yemeni army made more gains in Taez, as part of the operation to retake the southern province from Houthis.
Yemeni troops backed by the Arab coalition liberated Lawzm castle, in eastern Taez province “amid a battle with the Houthi militia,” said Tariq Al Mulaiki, a reporter embedded with the Yemeni army.
Also on Friday, the army repelled a Houthi attack on Al Selw motorway, during which Houthi Maj Gen Mohammed Ali Abdulkhaleq was killed alongside other fighters.
South of Taez city, in the Al Sallal hills and Saber Al Mawadem area, Houthi militants came under fire from tanks and mortars.
North of the city, the Arab-led coalition launched seven air strikes on armoured vehicles.
Yesterday, a commander in
We are sending out an appeal to all humanity and human rights defenders to save Asmaa before the Houthis execute her NOOR SURIB Yemen activist
the Yemeni army was killed in Qatabah district, Al Dalea province, when an explosive device was placed in his vehicle.
The Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in the Yemen civil war in 2015 to help restore the legitimate government of president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi. It has also committed $1.5 billion (Dh5.5bn) in humanitarian aid for the country, where more than 10,000 people have been killed since the war broke out.
On Friday, representatives from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, US and UK met in Riyadh to discuss ways to support the central bank of Yemen, said the Saudi Press Agency.