Mohammed Dabwan Al-Mayahy is a Yemeni journalist and writer who was abducted by Houthi forces from his home in Sana’a on 20 September 2024. His arrest followed the publication of an article criticizing the Houthis and their leader, Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi, in which he called for the celebration of the 62nd anniversary of the 1962 revolution that overthrew the Imamate rule and established the republican system in Yemen. The Houthi militia stormed his home, confiscated his phone and computer, and took him to an undisclosed location. His Facebook account was deleted hours later, leaving his fate uncertain. His whereabouts remained unknown for several weeks, and his family and legal representatives were denied access to him.

On 11 February 2025, the Houthi-controlled judiciary extended Al-Mayahy’s imprisonment for an additional 45 days. His lawyer reported that Al-Mayahy had adhered to his right to remain silent and refused to cooperate with the investigation, based on a previous decision by the investigation authority to refer him to the Press Prosecution. The Houthis exploited this to exert psychological pressure on him, suggesting that the defense’s advice was the reason for his continued detention.

On 24 May 2025, the Specialised Criminal Court in Sana’a, a court of First Instance, sentenced Al-Mayahy to one and a half years in prison after convicting him of the charges brought against him in the indictment, namely “harming state security” and “broadcasting news that would disturb public order.”

The court also required Al-Mayahy to sign a written pledge not to write again and to provide a financial guarantee of five million Yemeni riyals to confirm his pledge. The ruling also included the confiscation of his electronic devices and imposed surveillance on him for three years after he completes his sentence. The defense team immediately appealed the ruling.