Yemen's rebel court issues 'subpoena' for Donald Trump, Barack Obama and MbS

A Houthi court has summoned prominent figures such as Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
2 min read
17 October, 2019
The Houthi rebels took over Yemen in 2014 [Getty]
A Houthi court has summoned prominent world leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman within a next month before slapping a lawsuit against them over alleged war crimes in Yemen.

A total of 124 figures were ordered to appear in court to defend themselves of charges of war crimes, with the names published inin al-Thawra newspaper.

Politicians across the world are on the list, including Trump's predecessor Barack Obama, former US defence secretary James Mattis, along with former British Prime ministers Theresa May and David Cameron.

A number of Arab leaders were also mentioned, including Yemen's President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi who has been in exile in Saudi Arabia since 2015.

Prominent Emirati figures have been mentioned in the list, along with Jordan's King Abdullah and former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

Top level members of the Saudi monarchy are on the list, including King Salman and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Read also: Yemen’s Houthis broadcast video of August attack which captured 'thousands of soldiers'

Lower-level Yemeni politicians and journalists were also mentioned in the list, which was considered a way to silence opponents to the milita.

The court threatened that those who refused to appear in court will be tried in absentia as fugitives.

The Houthi rebels violently took over Yemen's capital city Sanaa on 21 September 2014 are also responsible for various crimes against humanity.

For years, human rights groups have accused the rebels of planting landmines, recruiting children, withholding aid and shelling civilian areas.

The Houthis have also imposed a siege on Yemen’s third largest city – Taiz.

Saudi Arabia waged war on Houthi rebels in Yemen in March 2015, following the Houthi takeover.

Yemen is the world's worst humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations. Tens of thousands of people have died as a result of indiscriminate airstrikes, fighting, or famine caused by war.