Yemeni Aid Worker: Houthi Detention and Forced Labor

Ezzadin Al Awadhi fled Yemen to Germany after years of Houthi captivity and forced labor. He now lives in Germany following a journey through Malaysia and Belarus.

Al Awadhi worked for the Anhar Al-Firdaws Foundation in Sanaa. The Houthis seized the complex in 2015 during Operation Decisive Storm. They detained all staff except Al Awadhi and looted the property. Houthi official Ibrahim Al-Sharafi took over the premises as a personal residence. Other officials leased the land to a businessman for a mall.

Al Awadhi surrendered to the Houthis to avoid a manhunt. They accused him of espionage and forced him to sign documents. He was released on the condition that he work for their media operations. His background in journalism made him useful for recruitment programs. He described the period as an open-air prison where his movements were constantly monitored.

The Houthis demanded he present public events mobilizing support for the war. He disagreed with organizers at Al-Sabeen Square who wanted him to lead recruitment segments. He was threatened and accused of siding with the enemy. He hid in a facility for washing bodies for nearly three months after a raid failed to find him.

He eventually surrendered and was questioned through the night. The Houthis accused him of providing coordinates for Saudi airstrikes and working for Israel. They threatened to send him to the Habrah detention center. He signed the charges under duress to avoid transfer. A respected community figure acted as his guarantor, but his freedom lasted only three days.

Al Awadhi hid again, changed his appearance, and used a fake ID to reach Seiyun. He traveled to Malaysia, where Yemeni citizens could obtain visas easily. He suffered nightmares and suicidal thoughts for years. He crossed the forests of Belarus on a dangerous route to Europe. He ate leaves and drank liquids from horse manure to survive.

Germany provided psychological support and emergency healthcare. Al Awadhi received protection and began rebuilding his life. He broke his silence after the death of one of his tormentors in a Saudi strike. He said the death of Ibrahim Al-Sharafi around October 28, 2026, emboldened him to speak.

Al Awadhi said many family members disowned him after he fled Yemen. He expressed gratitude for the support provided by Germany. He said he wanted a Yemen where humanitarian work is protected and no one is forced into war. He noted that speaking out came at the cost of losing part of his family.