Mwatana Calls for the Immediate Release of Libi Salem Marhabi
Sana’a – Friday, August 22, 2025
Mwatana for Human Rights, in a statement issued to mark the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief—observed annually on August 22—called on the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group to immediately release Libi Salem Mousa Marhabi, a member of Yemen’s Jewish minority, who has been arbitrarily detained for years.
Mwatana noted that Marhabi, 32 years old, was arrested on March 22, 2016, by the National Security Bureau (now the Security and Intelligence Service) in Sana’a, on charges of assisting in the smuggling of an ancient Torah manuscript outside the country. He was tried before the Public Funds Court, which sentenced him to two years in prison from the date of his detention. Although the verdict was upheld by both the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court, the authorities failed to comply with the judicial ruling, keeping Marhabi in arbitrary detention for more than nine years.
Since his arrest, Marhabi has been subjected to multiple violations, including enforced disappearance, denial of visits, and prolonged incommunicado detention, in addition to delays in bringing him before a court. His first appearance was only after nearly one year and seven months of detention, during the tenth hearing of his trial—an explicit violation of legal safeguards and fair trial procedures.
Radhya Al-Mutawakel, Chairperson of Mwatana for Human Rights, stated:
“The Ansar Allah (Houthi) group must release Libi Marhabi, enable him to exercise his right to regain his freedom, and put an end to their persistent disregard of repeated calls for his release under flimsy and unlawful pretexts.”
Al-Mutawakel added:
“The International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief is a symbolic occasion to reaffirm that freedom of religion and belief is neither a luxury nor a marginal choice, but a fundamental right essential to building just societies. It is also an indispensable condition for ensuring equality, achieving peace and stability, and strengthening the urgently needed culture of coexistence and mutual respect.”
Mwatana emphasized that violence based on religion or belief—including the continued detention of Marhabi—constitutes a criminal act under international human rights law, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966), the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965), and the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief (1981).
Mwatana for Human Rights called on the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group to immediately and unconditionally release Libi Salem Mousa Marhabi, a member of Yemen’s Jewish minority who has been arbitrarily detained since March 2016, to end arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance, and to respect judicial independence and implement judicial rulings.
