NOOR SURIB

Yemen- The Women's Coalition for Peace in Yemen has shot a film series about the oppression and rights violations faced by women held in Houthi prisons. On the occasion of International Women's Day, the women’s coalition has released the first part of the films on its YouTube channel. The film will also be screened in the Netherlands, Egypt, and Geneva this month. The film series tells the stories of 12 women survivors of Houthi prisons.

We spoke to Noora Al-Jarawi, President of the Women's Coalition for Peace in Yemen, about the film series. Stating that everyone should help the jailed women, Noora Al-Jarawi called on everyone to put pressure on the Houthi militias to stop their oppression of women. Reporting that the first part of the film series has been already released on their YouTube channel, she said, “The film will be screened in Egypt on March 16, in Geneva on March 20, and in the Netherlands on March 25. The first part of the film series tells the stories of three women, who were held in the Houthi prisons. I call on those who are involved in the resolution of the Yemeni crisis and to UN organizations; to stop rights violations against women. Yemeni women are in danger because of the Houthis. Yemeni women are sentenced to death, they are tortured and raped. For this reason, they should be the voices of Yemeni women.”

“One day this injustice will end”

Bardis El-Siyaghi, a Yemeni poet, thanked the Women's Coalition for Peace in Yemen to support them from the moment of their arrest until their release. “We will document everything we faced in the Houthi prisons. One day this injustice will end and justice will be delivered. Those who committed crimes against us will stand trial,” she said.

According to the report titled “Houthi Prisons Graves of Women” released by the Yemeni organizations in 2021, the number of female detainees reached more than 1.181. The report documented 274 cases of enforced disappearance, and 292 arrests of human rights activists from the education sector.