Former Houthi hostage recounts torture, hiding in a mortuary before escaping to Germany - interview
It felt like living in an open-air prison. I was not even free to meet my friends, former classmates, or colleagues from work,” said Ezzadin Al Awadhi.
Ezzadin Al Awadhi, a Yemeni aid worker who was formerly held hostage by the Houthis, recounted his harrowing experiences in an interview with The Jerusalem Post. Awadhi, who now resides in Germany, worked for the Anhar Al-Firdaws Foundation in Sanaa, a city under Houthi control. The foundation's efforts to build an orphanage, hospital, and community kitchen were disrupted when the Houthis seized the complex during Saudi-led Operation Decisive Storm in 2015.
Less than two weeks after the operation commenced, the organization's staff were detained, except for Awadhi, who was subjected to severe torture.
The Houthis looted all of the foundation's belongings and transformed parts of the buildings into commercial facilities, turning it into their personal residence and that of his sister. Awadhi accused Houthi officials Ibrahim Al-Sharafi and Ahmed Mutahar Al-Shami of misusing the premises for their own gain, depriving vulnerable families, orphans, and marginalized people of essential humanitarian services.
After escaping the initial raid, Awadhi knew the Houthis would continue searching for him. He ultimately turned himself in to avoid potential capture, only to be subjected to further abuse. The Houthis made numerous accusations against him and forced him to sign documents acknowledging them before releasing him on the condition that he assist with their media operations. Awadhi, a journalist by profession, was compelled to cooperate out of fear, even though he opposed war, violence, and the recruitment of fighters.
Despite his evasion attempts, Awadhi was repeatedly summoned for questioning and pressured to participate in military mobilization and recruitment activities. During one such event, he organized to recruit fighters against Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the US, he demanded to limit his role to presenting segments about patriotism, love for one's country, and national solidarity. However, he was forced to present all segments, including those he opposed, under the threat of being labeled as siding with the aggression.
His ordeal was further exacerbated when the Houthis launched another raid specifically to arrest him. Hiding in a mortuary for nearly three months, Awadhi lived in constant fear, unable to live normally or feel safe. Accused of espionage for Saudi strikes and working as an agent for Israel, he was eventually handed over to the Houthis, who questioned him throughout the night.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
