Statement of Condemnation: The Assassination and Dismemberment of the Child Ghassan Haroush

Statement of Condemnation: The Assassination and Dismemberment of the Child Ghassan Haroush

The Yemeni Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violations and Torture “Erada & Amal” condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the brutal and treacherous crime that has shaken the human conscience: the murder of 14-year-old Ghassan Tawfiq Hammoud Haroush in the Al-Urouq neighborhood of the Bani al-Harith district, located in the hijacked capital, Sana’a.

Details of the Shocking Incident:

• Disappearance: Ghassan went missing on the evening of Friday, 24 Ramadan 1447 AH (March 13, 2026), after leaving his home to buy Eid clothes and necessities for his family. He was carrying the sum of 300,000 Yemeni Rials.

• The Crime: After 20 days of agonizing searching, his body was discovered dismembered and hidden inside a bag in an abandoned yard in the Al-Urouq area.

Evidence indicates the involvement of elements belonging to the Houthi militia, who reportedly kidnapped him using a “military vehicle” (Taqm). This underscores the exploitation of military influence to commit horrific criminal acts, including the abduction, robbery, and violation of children.

This crime is not merely an isolated incident; it is a direct result of the systematic security collapse that Sana’a has endured since the Houthi militia seized control. The transformation of cities into a “jungle” where childhood is violated and blood is spilled for the sake of looting reflects the depth of moral and security decay under the Houthi repressive authority.

Demands and Accountability:

• Full Responsibility: The “Erada & Amal” Center holds the de facto authority (the terrorist Houthi militia) fully responsible for the lives of citizens and the safety of children within the areas under their control.

• International Investigation: We call upon the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and international organizations to investigate this heinous crime and ensure that the perpetrators do not escape punishment, especially given reports of militia involvement.

• International Action: We urge the international community to apply pressure and take serious steps toward restoring the Yemeni state to end the suffering of Sana’a’s residents, who have become prey to armed gangs operating under official cover.

The “Erada & Amal” Center, while offering its deepest condolences to the family of the martyred child Ghassan Haroush, emphasizes that international silence toward these atrocities grants Houthi criminals a green light to continue terrorizing civilians and dismantling the social fabric of Yemen.

Finally, the Center calls upon civilians living in Houthi-controlled areas to strengthen communal and security solidarity to confront the threat of these unprecedented crimes. Such atrocities, brought into Sana’a and other Yemeni provinces by the Houthi movement, were previously unknown to these communities and now pose a direct threat to public peace and childhood in particular.

Issued by: The Yemeni Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violations and Torture “Erada & Amal” Date: April 6, 2026 Republic of Yemen