Verdict awaits al-Houthi

The Penal Specialized Court is expected to deliver its verdict Saturday, February 6th, in absentia, against Yahya al-Houthi, on charges of being involved in forming a gang, inciting armed rebellion, and exchanging intelligence with foreign countries.
 
The Ministry of Justice has requested the Parliament to lift the immunity of Yahyia al-Houthi, the brother of the rebel leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, for the third time without taking legal actions against him since the first request in February 2007, said a report by the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee of the Parliament.
 
Yemen Observer tried to contact the Ministry of Justice to inquire about the reasons for delaying trial, as they have had since 2007 to do so. The justice ministry has not pursued or attempted to put on trial Yahya al-Houthi, while his immunity was stripped. Yemen Observer was unable to get a response. Experts look the suspiciously at this case. “This case is political and it is affected by the political changes,” said Nabeel al-Ansi, a lawyer and human rights activist. Al-Ansi explained that, “delivering a condemning verdict to Yahyia al-Houthi means that al-Houthi’s membership in the Parliament would be canceled, especially since the expected verdict is serious.”
 
The lifting of immunity, according to the Parliament regulations, lasts for only three months and if the judiciary does not take legal actions against the member within this period, then the immunity is automatically granted again, unless the Minister of Justice requests to extend the waiver of immunity.
 
 Al-Houthi’s parliamentary immunity has been stripped three times in order for the judiciary to take legal actions against him. The judiciary, however, did not do anything once al-Houthi’s immunity was lifted during those periods.
 
Al-Houthi is now living in Germany as a political refugee.

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