Asharq Al-Awsat

Dozens of judges escaped from the Houthi militias-controlled Yemeni capital, Sanaa, to liberated areas with the help of the legitimate government.

The judges were on house arrest imposed by the Tehran-backed militias for refusing to follow their Iranian agenda and to issue political rulings against civilians who violate their orders.

Undersecretary of the Justice Ministry Faisal Al-Majidi told Asharq Al-Awsat in a telephone call that a large number of judges has already arrived in the temporary capital, Aden, and in the Marib province.

He did not disclose the exact number of those who managed to escape.

Under Houthi rule, judges face arbitrary measures if they refuse to execute militia orders and issue rulings against civilians in Sanaa and Tihamah.

The Houthi militias have seized control of the judicial council in Sanaa and appointed a large number of their followers to positions in the body.

Al-Majidi said militants are currently abusing the judicial council in Sanaa to force judges to issue political rulings and persecute individuals who reject the Iranian hegemonic ambitions.

Several lawyers in Sanaa and Hodeidah have informed him that the militias are imposing closely watching their movements, should they choose to flee.

Separately, al-Majidi said he with Japanese Deputy Minister of Justice Hiromu Kurokawa during his October trip to Japan where he proposed plans to rebuild the judicial authority in Yemen, specifically universities that were destroyed by militias.