The Houthi militia kidnapped an owner of a small shop in Ibb governorate, in central Yemen, after assaulting him as a result of his objection to paying financial levies to the militia, part of the daily violations and crimes practiced by the militia in the Yemeni regions under its armed control.
Local sources said that the militia kidnapped Abdullah Al-Khobani, and assaulted him with excessive brutality in the "Dalam" area, the center of the Hobeish district, north of Ibb, for refusing to pay an arbitrary tax to a member of the dynastic militia named "Abu Farea".
The sources said the militiamen kidnapped Al-Khobani and transferred him to a prison run by Houthi militant, "Qaf Al-Hatar", who was appointed by the militia as director of security for the Hobeish district.
Since the beginning of this Ramadan, the Houthi militia has imposed unprecedented financial levies on store owners, money exchange businesses and larger private sector companies, under the threat of force.