Three Yemeni YouTubers stood trial in a Houthi court on Wednesday charged with spreading misinformation and inciting “chaos,” according to court documents seen by AFP.
The three, including Mustafa al-Mawmari who has more than two million followers, were detained in Sanaa in December after they published videos critical of the Iran-backed Houthi militia.
For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Ahmad Hajar, who has more than 243,000 subscribers, and Ahmad Elaw with 800,000 also appeared before the court.
They were charged with “spreading misinformation” and “harming public interest,” as well as “inciting the masses to commit acts of chaos,” according to the court documents.
It was not clear when a verdict would be issued.
The Houthis are increasingly limiting individual liberties, including free speech and the movement of women in areas they control.
The YouTubers’ influence was seen as “serving the aggression... against Yemen” by the Arab Coalition backing the Yemeni government, the court documents said.
Hajar, 43, was the first to be captured after he accused the Houthis of “robbing the Yemeni people,” in a video watched by half a million viewers.
One of Hajar’s relatives confirmed his arrest to AFP and said that “he was kidnapped from the street on December 22.”
Hajar’s family visited him in detention and found him in “terrible shape,” the relative said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
“He was not himself,” the relative added.
Read more:
US Navy intercepts fishing boat smuggling ammunition en route from Iran to Yemen
UN experts urge warring sides to renew truce in Yemen
Saudi Arabia sponsors $1 bln AMF deal to support Yemen economic reform program
Also Read
-
US Navy intercepts vessel smuggling assault rifles from Iran to Yemen
The US Navy seized over 2,100 assault rifles from a ship in the Gulf of Oman it believes came from Iran and were bound for Yemen’s Iranian-backed ... Gulf -
US envoy to Yemen discusses truce deal with Yemeni officials in Saudi Arabia, Jordan
US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking met with senior Yemeni officials in Saudi Arabia and Jordan as part UN-led peace efforts to extend and ... Gulf -
Saudi Arabia signs $20 million agreement with WFP to support food security in Yemen
Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian arm signed a $20 million agreement with the World Food Program (WFP) to enhance food security in Yemen.The King Salman ... Saudi Arabia -
Saudi Arabia sponsors $1 bln AMF deal to support Yemen economic reform program
Sponsored by Saudi Arabia, the Arab Monetary Fund signed a $1 billion agreement with the Yemeni government to support an economic, financial and ... Saudi Arabia
