Yemen has been enduring a complex humanitarian and political crisis for several years, which worsens daily due to ongoing armed conflict and the impact of the Houthis terrorist militia on Yemeni society. In this context, Sada El Balad English (SEE) met with Dr. Wissam Basendwah, Chairwoman of the National Coalition of Independent Women in Yemen, to highlight numerous issues affecting Yemen’s reality. These included the classification of the Houthis as a terrorist group and the importance of that designation, corruption and manipulation of humanitarian aid, violations of human rights against women, children, and journalists, and the urgent need for the international community to take a firm stand against this militia to preserve the security of Yemen and the region.
*The Houthis and Their Terrorist Group Classification: International Organizations’ Fear vs. Reality*
At the outset, Dr. Basendwah shared her views at a strong press conference held at the “Sada Al Balad” headquarters concerning some international organizations’ fears about designating the Houthis as a terrorist group and how this would affect humanitarian aid delivery.
Dr. Basendwah said: “International organizations fear that labeling the Houthis as a terrorist group would complicate aid reaching the Yemeni people, especially as they depend on the Houthis to deliver that aid.”
She clarified that this belief is mistaken because encouraging the Houthis and the lack of a strict stance against them has contributed to the ongoing humanitarian crisis. “The Houthis do not distribute aid to the rightful recipients; they steal it, sell it on the black market, and extort families, especially when it comes to children. Some families do not see any of this aid at all.”
She added that much aid is given exclusively to families and groups loyal to the Houthis, while the rest of the Yemeni population is deprived. The Houthis sometimes take commissions of up to 75% of the aid in exchange for providing security and protection to United Nations staff.
*U.S. Policy and Its Impact on the Classification of the Houthi Militia*
Regarding the U.S. position on classifying the Houthis as a terrorist group, Dr. Basendwah attributed the decision to internal political calculations rather than a serious desire to enforce it:
“President Trump, during his first term, decided to classify the Houthis as a terrorist group but did not take it seriously, using it instead as a political bargaining chip against his successor, which delayed the execution of the decision. The order came only near the end of his administration. When President Biden took office, he canceled the decision citing the need to deliver humanitarian aid. However, at the beginning of Trump’s second term, he reinstated the classification, and there have been positive results since, though the impact would have been greater if the measure were fully implemented.”
*Corruption within International Organizations in Yemen and Their Role in Houthi Manipulation*
Regarding international relief organizations’ work and the level of corruption involved, Dr. Basendwah stated that the Houthis threaten staff working in these organizations, including employees of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who have been arrested on espionage charges.
She added: “International organizations lack strong data to indict the Houthis and are accused of corruption and financially contributing to the group through commissions officially reaching 25% and sometimes up to 75%. There have been shipments of wheat spoiled in warehouses because the Houthis did not deliver them to the deserving, and these organizations do not act in response to these violations.”
She confirmed that the closure of the UN High Commissioner’s office did not significantly impact combating the Houthis because other organizations still paid them.
*Call for the European Union to Take a Serious Stand Against the Houthis*
Dr. Basendwah called on the European Union to adopt the same decision as the United States in classifying the Houthis as a terrorist group, condemning some European Parliament members for opposing Trump’s decisions stubbornly, which benefits the Houthis at the expense of the Yemeni people.
*Political and Economic Pressure as a Way to Confront the Houthis*
Regarding whether political and economic pressure alone is sufficient to confront the Houthis, she emphasized that political pressure alone will not eliminate the militia. She compared the situation to Europe’s long process of designating Hezbollah as a terrorist group, which took many years to change policies.
She warned that the Houthis pose a new security threat, especially with their involvement in maritime piracy, polluting waterways and ports by mining and bombing tankers, as well as launching missiles and drones.
*Hudaydah Port: The Lost Strategic Turning Point*
On the importance of Hudaydah Port in the Yemeni conflict, she said:
“It could have been liberated in late 2017 with the support and encouragement of the international community, which would have led to the collapse of the Houthis in Sana’a and Taiz. However, UN intervention and hesitation from the international community weakened coalition efforts and caused the liberation to fail. Today, Hudaydah Port is a main artery for smuggling weapons and aid funds that end up in the Houthis’ coffers instead of reaching the needy people.”
She urged serious steps to liberate Hudaydah and Houthi-controlled areas, including providing full air cover to free the land from terrorist militias by the Yemeni army, stressing that failure to liberate them means ongoing threats to regional and international peace and a worsening humanitarian crisis.
*Violations Against Yemeni Women under Houthi Rule*
Dr. Basendwah addressed the severe suffering of women in Houthi-controlled areas:
“More than 1,400 women are detained in Houthi prisons without fair trials, suffering arbitrary detention and false charges that stigmatize them even after release. Women have been kidnapped, tortured, and subjected to systematic rape. A striking example is the case of ‘Intisar Al-Hammadi,’ who was arrested solely for wearing traditional Yemeni attire and taking pictures.”
She added that the Houthis have imposed strict restrictions on women’s freedoms, including enforcing a specific abaya design resembling that worn by ISIS women. Violators face punishment by having their abayas cut. They even entered university campuses to monitor violations. Women are banned from working in mixed environments or without a male guardian and face restrictions on movement, including being forced to shave their heads if they travel without a mahram (guardian), under the control of Houthi women called the “Zainabiyat.”
*Restrictions on Journalists and Freedom of Expression*
Dr. Basendwah discussed freedom of opinion and media under Houthi rule:
“Since the Houthis entered Sana’a in 2015, Abdul Malik al-Houthi labeled journalists as ‘agitators’ and ‘terrorists,’ opening the door for arrests and persecution, theft of media outlets’ contents, and imprisonment of many journalists, continuing a systematic campaign of repression. Today, only one voice is allowed in Yemen—the pro-Houthi voice, while most human rights defenders have fled out of fear of arrest and execution.”
*Violations and Destruction in Houthi-Controlled Cities*
She stated that Houthis practice siege and systematic destruction in areas like Al-Bayda city and Hudaydah port, where they have besieged entire villages for long periods, cut communications, arrested opponents, burned homes and hospitals in multiple locations.
*Child Recruitment in Taiz and the Rising Violations*
Among the highlighted crimes is the recruitment of a large number of children in Taiz, which escalates violations against them and increases civilian casualties in the conflict.
Dr. Wissam Basendwah concludes her interview by calling on the international community to adopt firmer and more responsible stances to maintain security and stability in Yemen and the region through:
- International classification of the Houthis as a terrorist organization.
- Strict oversight on smuggling and financial flows.
- Support for liberating Yemeni territories from militia control.
- Protection of human rights, especially for women, children, and journalists.
These are the only steps to break the cycle of violence and corruption, end the suffering of Yemenis, and rebuild a state governed by law and justice.
*
The Yemeni crisis remains complex and treacherous. However, Dr. Wissam Basendwah’s discourse exposes the true face of the Houthi militia and its catastrophic effects on the Yemeni people. It also stresses the importance of a tougher and more responsible international stance by designating the Houthis as a terrorist group, tightening oversight on smuggling, and supporting efforts to reclaim Yemeni lands. These measures are crucial to breaking the cycle of corruption, armed force, and human rights violations that threaten the freedoms and safety of civilians—especially women, children, and journalists—in pursuit of restoring peace and security to Yemen and the broader region.
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