Sana'a – On the occasion of World Teachers’ Day, the Yemeni Teachers’ Union issued a powerful statement accusing the Houthi militia of abducting and detaining more than 350 teachers over the past several years. The union condemned what it described as systematic repression targeting educators in areas under Houthi control.

According to the statement, the detained teachers have been held in Houthi-run prisons, many without formal charges or access to legal representation. The union claims that these arrests are part of a broader campaign to silence dissent and impose ideological control over the education sector.

“These educators were not criminals—they were voices of knowledge and peace,” the union declared. “Their only fault was refusing to submit to indoctrination and standing firm in their professional and ethical duties.”

The union called on international human rights organizations and the United Nations to intervene and pressure the Houthis to release the detained teachers, and to ensure the protection of educational professionals across Yemen.

The statement also highlighted the deteriorating conditions of education in Houthi-controlled areas, citing forced curriculum changes, intimidation of school staff, and the militarization of school environments.

World Teachers’ Day, celebrated globally to honor the role of educators, served as a somber reminder in Yemen of the challenges faced by teachers amid ongoing conflict and political repression.