Yahya al-Houthi sentenced to Prison

The Specialized criminal court in Sanaa has sentenced Yahya al-Houthi, the elder brother of the field commander of the Houthis, to 15 years in prison on Saturday. Yemen’s State Security court convicted MP Yahya of "taking part in forming and participating in an armed terrorist group".

MP Yahya, living in exile in Germany, was sentenced in absentia before an (illegitimacy) court. Yet, since being a member of the General People's Congress (GPC), the ruling party, Yahya’s parliamentary immunity was lifted by the parliament dominated by the said ruling party four months ago.

Concurrently, Abdul-Malik Al-Houhti announced that his faction are taking into consideration the possibility of joining the Joint Meeting providing having an atmosphere of mutual respect between the said and the Joint Meeting Parties (JMP), consisting of the most significant political forces opposing President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s regime. In fact, the Yemeni president has repeatedly recommended Al-Houhti’s faction to launch a political party, as provided for in the Doha agreement.

On the other hand, the Secretariat of the National Dialogue Committee, formed by the Joint Meeting and its alliance, is holding its ongoing meetings in order to face the completion, took place during the past weeks, of the future work programs of the Main Committees, the so-called the committees of social groups and stratification.

The National Dialogue Committee spokesman said that the Secretariat will discuss the latest developments regarding Saada’s Cause and the Southern Cause. Mohammed Al-Sabri has stated that both the meetings and visits of the Committee of the Southern Cause, headed by Dr. Abdullah Obel, reflected the willingness of variety of parties, leaders and civil forces in the south to accept the national dialogue. However, the Committee’s report showed a number of troubles caused by the Authority in order to face the Committee's work. The report cited as an instance what happened at the headquarters of Al-Ayyam newspaper; the place where the Committee of the Southern Cause was supposed to hold meetings with number of personalities in the province of Aden and in other southern provinces as well.

Nonetheless, Saada’s committee, head by Sheikh Faisal Manna, in a meeting held last week, discussed the war current developments and thus welcomed Abdul-Malik’s announced acceptance of the five points to stop the war.