Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 10th June. UN rights office in Geneva on Friday voiced alarm over the detention of followers of the minority Baha’i faith and a subsequent sermon by a leading cleric targeted them and other religious groups, in a statement issued in New York
OHCHR noted that on 25 May, security forces stormed a peaceful meeting of Baha’i in Sana’a. Over 17 people, including 5 women, were taken to an unknown location and all but one being held incommunicado.
OHCHR office urged the de facto Houthi authorities in Sana’a, to immediately release the detainees.
The rights office said that Shamseddin Sharafeddin, the Mufti appointed by leaders of the Houthi rebel movement accused the detained Baha’is of being traitors, and said that if they did not repent, they “should be killed”.
According to the international community’s website Baha’i is a faith that emphasized the worth of all religions since its establishment in the 19th century including “divine educators” such as Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Jesus and the prophet Muhammad.
One per cent of Yemen non Muslim is subscribe to the faith, OHCHR stated
The agency stressed that the Houthi rebels, Shia Muslims have controlled Sana’a since 2014, as part of the long-running conflict with officially-recognized Government forces and their allies for full control of the country.
OHCHR Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence in a press briefing condemned the use of “any language that incites discrimination and violence against minorities and often leads to forced exile and displacement” in addition to contravening international law.
“We remind the de facto authorities in Sana’a, that they must respect the human rights of people living under their control”, added Mr. Laurence.
“Human rights guarantees minorities, among other things, the right to profess and practice their own religion and the right to a fair trial before an independent and impartial tribunal”, he continued.
He said pre-trial detention “should be the exception and should be used only if reasonable and necessary, based on an individual assessment of each case.”
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