Yemen
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- in transition
- CONSTITUTION
- May 16, 1991, amended on September 29, 1994, and in February 2001
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on Islamic law, Turkish, English, and local tribal customs
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral, consisting of the Shura Council and House of Representatives
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court
RELIGIONS
Muslim majority, Jewish, Christian, and Hindu minorities
From the country
APRIL 12, 2020YemenDEATH PENALTYYEMEN: HOUTHI REBELS SENTENCE 4 REPORTERS TO DEATH
A court run by Yemen's Houthi rebels on 11 April 2020 sentenced four journalists to death after their conviction on spying charges, their defense lawyer said.
MARCH 28, 2020YemenDEATH PENALTYYEMEN: HOUTHI REBELS PARDON BAHA'I SENTENCED TO DEATH, RELEASE ALL MINORITY GROUP PRISONERS
Yemen's Houthi rebels announced they had pardoned a minority Baha’i sentenced to death over his religion and ordered the release of more than 20 other members of the minority imprisoned in the capital Sanaa, local reports said on 25 March 2020.
- MARCH 24, 2020YemenDEATH PENALTY
YEMEN: HOUTHI-RUN COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE AGAINST BAHA’I PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE
An appeals court in Sana’a, Yemen, ruled on 22 March 2020 to uphold a religiously-motivated death sentence against Hamed bin Haydara, a Baha’i who has been imprisoned since 2013.
- MARCH 18, 2020YemenDEATH PENALTY
YEMEN: PRO-HOUTHI COURT SENTENCES 19 SENIOR ARMY OFFICERS TO DEATH
A Houthi court in the Yemeni capital Sanaa on 17 March 2020 passed the death sentence on 19 senior army officers loyal to the UN-recognised government of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.
MARCH 5, 2020YemenDEATH PENALTYYEMEN: HOUTHI COURT SENTENCES 35 PRO-GOVERNMENT DEPUTIES TO DEATH
The Houthi-controlled Specialized Criminal Court in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, on 3 March 2020 sentenced 35 Yemeni pro-government deputies to death after charging them with cooperating with the Saudi-led Arab coalition.
- JANUARY 1, 2020YemenDEATH PENALTY
Yemen's legal system is based on both Sharia principles and customary law.
Yemen's legal system is based on both Sharia principles and customary law.
DECEMBER 18, 2019YemenDEATH PENALTYYEMEN: HOUTHI-CONTROLLED COURT SENTENCES 4 TO DEATH FOR ALLEGEDLY SPYING FOR SAUDI ARABIA
A Houthi rebel-controlled court in Yemen's capital Sanaa on 16 December 2019 sentenced four men to death for allegedly spying for Saudi Arabia, the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported.
JULY 9, 2019YemenDEATH PENALTYYEMEN: REBEL COURT CONDEMNS 30 TO DEATH FOR SPYING
A court run by Yemen's Huthi rebels on 9 July 2019 sentenced 30 academics, trade unionists and preachers to death for allegedly spying for the Saudi-led coalition, a judicial source said.
- APRIL 3, 2019YemenDEATH PENALTY
Rami Amer Khamis bin Thabit al-Nahdi on 7 March 2019 was executed by shooting in public for murder.
Rami Amer Khamis bin Thabit al-Nahdi on 7 March 2019 was executed by shooting in public for murder.
- FEBRUARY 19, 2019YemenDEATH PENALTY
YEMEN: TWO MEN SHOT IN PUBLIC FOR KIDNAPING, RAPING AND MURDERING 12-YEAR-OLD BOY
Yemen on 7 February 2019 executed two men for abducting, raping and murdering a 12-year-old boy by shooting them in public.
- JANUARY 1, 2019YemenDEATH PENALTY
Yemen's legal system is based on both Sharia principles and customary law.
Yemen's legal system is based on both Sharia principles and customary law.
OCTOBER 10, 2018YemenDEATH PENALTYYEMEN: HOUTHI COURT HANDS DOWN DEATH SENTENCES TO TWO YEMENIS FOR ESPIONAGE
A Houthi court in Sanaa on 9 October 2018 handed down death sentences to two Yemenis on charges including espionage for Saudi Arabia and a Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen