OHCHR / YEMEN HUMAN RIGHTS

The detention by the de facto authorities in Sana’a of a group of followers of the minority Baha’i faith and a subsequent sermon by Shamseddin Sharafeddin, the Mufti in Sana’a, inciting hatred against the Baha’is and other religious groups are “matters of serious concern,” said UN Human Rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence. UNTV CH

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:33
• Production Date: 9 June 2023
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - OHCHR
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS
• Geographic Subject: YEMEN
• MAMS Id: 3053082
• Parent Id: 3053082
• Alternate Title: unifeed230609b

Description

STORY: OHCHR / YEMEN HUMAN RIGHTS
TRT: 01:33
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATS

DATELINE: 09-06-2023 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, exterior Palais des Nations, Geneva
2. Wide shot, wide shot press conference
3. Soundbite (English) Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The detention by the de facto authorities in Sana’a (a.k.a Huthis or Ansar Allah) of a group of followers of the minority Baha’i faith and a subsequent sermon by Shamseddin Sharafeddin, the Mufti in Sana’a, inciting hatred against the Baha’is and other religious groups are matters of serious concern.”
4. Med shot, briefing room
5. Soundbite (English) Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Our Office urges the immediate release of the 16 people still being held incommunicado, and we condemn the use of any language that incites discrimination and violence, particularly against minorities, and often leads to forced exile and displacement.”
6. Med shot, briefing room.
7. Soundbite (English) Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Last Friday, during a sermon in Sana’a, the Mufti appointed by the de facto authorities in Sana’a accused the detained Baha’i followers of apostasy and of being traitors, and said that if they did not repent, they should be killed. We deplore the use of such language which starkly defies international law.”
8. Med shot, briefing room.

Storyline

At the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva, UN Human Rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence made the following statement on Yemen.

“The detention by the de facto authorities in Sana’a (a.k.a Huthis or Ansar Allah) of a group of followers of the minority Baha’i faith and a subsequent sermon by Shamseddin Sharafeddin, the Mufti in Sana’a, inciting hatred against the Baha’is and other religious groups are matters of serious concern,” he said.

“Our Office urges the immediate release of the 16 people still being held incommunicado, and we condemn the use of any language that incites discrimination and violence, particularly against minorities, and often leads to forced exile and displacement,” the spokesperson said.

On 25 May, security forces stormed a peaceful meeting of Baha’is in Sana’a. Seventeen people, including five women, were forcefully taken to an unknown location, and their books, phones, laptops and other belongings confiscated. One of those has since been released.

“Last Friday, during a sermon in Sana’a, the Mufti appointed by the de facto authorities in Sana’a accused the detained Baha’i followers of apostasy and of being traitors, and said that if they did not repent, they should be killed. We deplore the use of such language which starkly defies international law,” he said.