Repression of women on rise in rebel-held Yemen

Yemen has long been a deeply conservative society, but the Iran-backed Huthis are enforcing their austere brand of Islam with an iron fist, witnesses say.

It is rare for women to speak out, but Balqees described how a Huthi official stopped her at a checkpoint leaving Sanaa when travelling by bus with female friends.

Violations of women’s rights in Huthi-controlled areas grew “more acute” last year, according to Yemeni non-governmental organisation Mwatana for Human Rights.

The clampdown on freedoms includes prohibiting the use of contraception and restricting women’s right to work, it said.