The latest hearing on the case of 24 Yemeni Baha’is took place on 25 February in Sana’a. The Baha’is are facing false charges—including accusations of espionage and working against Islam—and lack of due process.

The presiding judge, Mujahed al-Amdi, mocked the defence lawyer when he protested at being denied access to his clients. The judge later relented yet made access to the Baha’is contingent on officers being present during any meeting, in violation of their rights. Judge al-Amdi also tried during the hearing to replace the defence lawyer with a lawyer of the Judge’s own choosing.

The Baha’i International Community is concerned that in the absence of any legitimate charges, the judge seeks to return a quick guilty verdict against the Baha’is.

Five Baha’is, who have been detained since 2017 and are among the 24 being tried, were present during the court hearing. The Baha’is have since—for the first time since their original detention—been allowed to meet with their lawyer outside the courtroom. Six officers supervised the meeting per Judge al-Amdi’s decree. The lawyer continues to be denied access to the documents presented to the court by the prosecution. 

The next hearing date was set for 10 March.