The Houthi-run Specialized Criminal Court in Sana’a sentenced 35 Yemeni parliamentarians to death for collaborating with the Saudi-led coalition. 

An hour after it was announced that the sentencing hearing had been postponed, attorney Abdul Basit Ghazi, head of the legal defense team, was surprised by the arrival of the chief prosecutor, media and the judge. 

“The judge issued his ruling to reject the defense's argument that the court has no jurisdiction in this case (and) all 35 defendants were indicted and convicted of criminal collaboration with Saudi’s and their allies," Ghazi said.

The sentences for the 35 defendants included the death penalty and confiscation of financial holdings and real estate inside and outside of Yemen for the benefit of the state.

Since seizing control of Sana’a in 2014, Houthi authorities have consistently used Yemen’s court system against opponents to confiscate money and property on charges of collaborating with the Saudi-led coalition.