Nine people sentenced to death for involvement in assassination of rebel leader Saleh al-Samad
The brutal , public execution of nine men convicted of spying in Yemen and allegedly involved in the assassination of rebel leader Houthi is disgusting to the world .
The bomber struck shortly after noon in Tahrir Square, the capital of Sanaa, which is controlled by Shiite rebels close to Iran.
The nine men were dragged into a square, forced to lie on their foreheads and shot in the back.
It was preceded by a rather controversial trial over the assassination of Saleh al-Samad, who was killed at least three years ago in a Saudi- led coalition airstrike .
The executions, which took place on Saturday, were attended by hundreds of people, mostly Houthis and their supporters.
After the executions, the crowd danced in the streets.
The retaliatory killings sparked international outrage, with the EU calling them ” cruel and inhumane “.
The nine were among 60 people accused by the Houthis of involvement in al-Samad’s assassination in April 2018.
A Houthi court found the nine men guilty of espionage and leaking sensitive information.
Among them was a man who was a minor when he was arrested.
They were shot in the back
Photos and videos from the execution were circulated on social media. In them, military officials are seen shooting the nine men in the back in Sanaa’s central square.
The nine men were arrested months after al-Samad’s death.
All this time he was detained in unspecified places, while he fell victim to inhuman treatment, complains a lawyer and a representative of one of the accused.
An EU spokesman condemned the executions, and there were allegations of misconduct and ill-treatment.
“The European Union strongly condemns the death penalty at all times and in all circumstances.
It is a harsh and inhumane punishment,” the statement said.
A similar statement was issued by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres , who called for a moratorium on the death penalty in Yemen and negotiations for a peaceful settlement to the conflict.
