Yemeni Activist Wissam Basindawa Exposes Houthi Crimes in US Campaign

In a major international advocacy effort, Wissam Basindawa, President of the National Coalition of Independent Women in Yemen, led a high-profile campaign across Washington and New York in mid-May 2025 to expose human rights violations committed by the Iran-backed Houthi militia.

During her visit, Dr. Basindawa held a series of strategic meetings with members of the US Congress and Senate, policy advisors, journalists, and researchers from leading think tanks such as the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, the American Foreign Policy Council, The Heritage Foundation, and the Hudson Institute.

She also engaged with United Nations officials and representatives of European diplomatic missions, including the UK Mission to the UN, as well as international NGOs operating in Yemen and prominent global media experts.

The campaign focused on documenting and raising international awareness of the grave human rights violations perpetrated by Houthi forces against Yemeni civilians, with particular emphasis on the suffering of women and children.

Dr. Basindawa presented a series of detailed briefings and well-documented reports that highlight Iran’s ongoing support for the Houthis, including arms smuggling operations in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

She also referenced US Treasury Department disclosures revealing the financial networks linking the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to regional militias, including the Houthis, underscoring Iran’s destabilizing role in the Middle East.

As part of the campaign, Dr. Basindawa conducted several media interviews to promote the coalition’s annual report, which chronicles systematic abuses against women in areas under Houthi control. Her efforts aim to mobilize international support, pressure the Houthi movement to end its violations, and hold its backers accountable on the global stage.