The Baha’i International Community is deeply concerned for the safety of Yemeni Baha’is, including Mr. Hamed bin Haydara, following alarming statements made in court during his most recent appeal hearings.

In 2018, after a series of sham trials spanning four years, a judge in Houthi-controlled Sana’a called for the execution of Mr. Haydara, the confiscation of all of his assets, and the dissolution of Baha’i institutions.

Recently, on 17 September 2019, the prosecutor in Mr. Haydara’s appeal not only restated its support of the lower court decision to execute Mr. Haydara but also called to “immediately deport… all who are considered Baha’is” and to “ban their entry” into Yemen, significantly escalating the scope of the judicial prosecution far beyond the mandate of the appeal. In its written statement, the prosecution further requested the court to adopt any additional measures to discourage Baha’i beliefs and their expression in the country.

At the latest court hearing on 1 October 2019, the judge called for the listing of the assets of Mr. Haydara and of the Baha’i National Assembly in advance of their seizure—ominous signs that the judge may issue a wide-ranging verdict against the Baha’is at the next court hearing, which is scheduled to take place on 15 October 2019.

“The Baha’i International Community is deeply concerned for the entire Yemeni Baha’i community following this recommendation by the judicial prosecution which puts at risk the very existence of one of Yemen’s vibrant religious communities,” said Bani Dugal.

“We appeal to the judge to uphold the rule of law and call on the Houthi authorities to stop mimicking the tactics used by authorities in Iran.”

The above developments have taken place in spite of recent condemnation by the international community in a Human Rights Council resolution on 10 September 2019 which denounces the Houthi’s treatment of the Baha’is in Yemen, and notes that the group persecutes the Baha’is “...on the basis of their belief, including by detaining and charging them with apostasy, openly deriding the Baha’i faith in legal filings, issuing death sentences and threatening their supporters.”