8 Al Houthi rebels sentenced to death, 13 jailed

By Nasser Arrabyee/31/10/2009


A total of 8 Al Houthi rebels were sentenced to death and 13 others were sentenced to jail terms ranging between 3 to 15 years for fighting against the State last year.

"Death to America, death to Israel, curse to Jews, and victory to Islam," the rebels shouted from behind the bars as the Judge of the State Security Court, Redhwan Al Namer pronounced the verdict Saturday.

The 21 defendants did not ask for an appeal, as they do not recognize the legitimacy of the court. The described the court and the verdict as American.

The court acquitted two defendants after they they were proved mentally ill by the court's doctors.



The 21 defendants were convicted of forming an armed gang for fighting the State and killing citizens and soldiers in the middle of 2008.

Earlier this months, 51 rebels were convicted by the same court of participating in the same armed gang, 16 of them were sentenced to death.

The 72 defendants are among a group of more than 150 Al Houthi rebels currently being tried for forming an armed gang and fighting the State and killing citizens and soldiers during the period from May to July 2008, in Bani Hushaish area, the northen outskirt of the capital Sana'a.