UNITED NATIONS, United States, Dec 10, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday condemned the transfer to a special Houthi court of some among the 59 UN employees being held by the Yemeni rebels.

Since May 2024, the Iran-backed Houthis have carried out several waves of arrest in regions they control, targeting UN staff as well as workers employed by local and international humanitarian organizations. The rebels control the capital Sanaa and large parts of Yemen.

The UN chief "condemns the referral by the de facto Houthi authorities of United Nations employees to their special criminal court," said Stephane Dujarric, the secretary-general's spokesman.

When asked about how many of the 59 UN employees had been transferred to the court, Dujarric replied: "I can tell you that a number of the UN staff have been referred to the Special Criminal Court, and that is of deep concern and worry for us."

The 59 -- all Yemeni nationals -- have been held incommunicado, in some cases for years, "without any due process, in violation of international law," the spokesman added.

"We call on the de facto authorities to rescind the referral and work in good faith toward the immediate release of all detained personnel of the UN, NGOs and diplomatic community," Dujarric said.

The Houthis have accused UN personnel of spying for the United States and Israel -- allegations rejected by the United Nations.

In a statement, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said that one of his colleagues had been presented before the special Houthi tribunal on the grounds of "fabricated charges of espionage connected to his work."

"This is totally unacceptable and a grave violation of human rights," Turk said, calling for the immediate release of all UN employees and those of other organizations.

The Houthis have used their judicial system as a tool of repression against NGOs, journalists, and opponents.

Last month, a Houthi court sentenced 17 people to death by firing squad on charges of spying for Israel, the United States, and Saudi Arabia, according to a report by an official rebel media outlet at the time that did not identify the condemned.