LONDON, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Authorities in Yemen are using counter-terrorism as an excuse to violate human rights, a report by Amnesty International charges.
The report released Wednesday accuses authorities of carrying out unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests, torture and unfair trials in the name of fighting al-Qaida and Huthi rebels.
"Yemeni authorities, under pressure from the (United States) and others to fight al-Qaida, and Saudi Arabia to deal with the Huthis, have been citing national security as a pretext to deal with opposition and stifle all criticism," said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty's director for the Middle East and North Africa.
The report said last year at least 34 people accused of links to Huthi armed groups were sentenced to death while security forces killed at least 113 people in operations targeting terrorists. UPI
