After nearly five years behind bars, Yemeni actor and model Intisar al-Hammadi has finally been released from a Houthi-run prison in Sanaa, drawing attention once again to the fraught state of women’s rights and due process in Yemen’s conflict-ridden north. Al-Hammadi’s lawyer, Khalid al-Kamal, confirmed her release, which took place in late October 2025, bringing an end to a prolonged and controversial saga that rights groups say was riddled with abuses and legal irregularities.
Al-Hammadi, just 25 years old, was detained in February 2021 alongside three other women. She and another woman, Yousra al-Nashri, were sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of committing an "indecent act" and possessing drugs. The other two women received sentences of one and three years, respectively. The case, as reported by the Associated Press and Arab News, has been widely criticized by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and other organizations as emblematic of the repression faced by women and dissenters in areas controlled by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
“The court proceedings were arbitrary and lacked due process,” Human Rights Watch stated, highlighting the deep flaws in the judicial process that led to al-Hammadi’s conviction. Rights groups have repeatedly pointed to the case as an example of the Houthis’ heavy-handed approach to social norms and their intolerance of perceived challenges to their authority, especially from women in the public eye.
Born to a Yemeni father and Ethiopian mother, al-Hammadi had carved out a promising career as a model and actress before her arrest. She worked as a model for four years and appeared in two Yemeni soap drama series in 2020. Her career, though brief, was groundbreaking in a country where opportunities for women in entertainment are scarce and often fraught with risk. Before her imprisonment, she was also the sole breadwinner for her four-member family, a fact that made her detention all the more devastating for her loved ones.
The response to her release has been swift and vocal. Dozens of Yemeni public figures signed an online statement welcoming her freedom and urging the Houthi authorities to ensure she receives proper health care after her ordeal. The statement reflects the widespread concern for her well-being and the broader implications of her case for women’s rights in Yemen.
The Houthis have controlled Sanaa and much of northern Yemen since 2014, after advancing from their stronghold in Saada province and forcing the internationally recognized government into exile. Their rise to power marked a dramatic shift in Yemen’s political landscape, plunging the country into a civil war that has persisted for more than a decade. In 2015, a Saudi-led coalition that included the United Arab Emirates intervened in an attempt to restore the exiled government, but the conflict has since reached a grinding stalemate.
According to Arab News, the Houthis are backed by Iran, and their control over the capital and surrounding territories has been marked by strict social controls, especially on women. Both the Houthis and the internationally recognized government have imposed severe restrictions on women’s movement. Human Rights Watch reports that women have been barred from traveling between provinces, and in some cases, from traveling abroad without the permission of a male guardian or the accompaniment of an immediate male relative. These policies, rights groups argue, further entrench gender inequality and limit women’s ability to participate in public life.
The details of al-Hammadi’s arrest and trial have become a lightning rod for criticism. Rights organizations argue that the charges against her—committing an "indecent act" and drug possession—were vague and used as a pretext to punish her for her career and public profile. The Associated Press notes that her trial was “marred with irregularities and abuse,” echoing the concerns of international observers who see her case as part of a broader pattern of repression in Houthi-controlled areas.
It’s not just the Houthis who have come under fire for their treatment of women and dissidents. The internationally recognized government, now operating largely in exile, has also imposed restrictions on women’s movement and cracked down on opposition. The conflict has created an environment in which both sides feel justified in curtailing civil liberties in the name of security and social order.
In recent years, there have been some signs of de-escalation in the broader conflict. Arab News reports that recent agreements between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia have led to a halt in cross-border attacks, with the Saudi-led coalition reducing its airstrikes in exchange. However, these diplomatic moves have yet to translate into meaningful improvements for ordinary Yemenis, especially women like al-Hammadi who find themselves caught between warring factions and restrictive social norms.
For al-Hammadi, the journey from rising star to prisoner and now, finally, to a free woman, has been harrowing. Her story has resonated far beyond Yemen’s borders, serving as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by women in conflict zones and the urgent need for legal reforms and protection of basic rights. The fact that she was the primary provider for her family only underscores the broader social impact of her imprisonment.
Her lawyer, Khalid al-Kamal, has been a consistent advocate throughout her ordeal. Upon her release, he reiterated the call for proper medical care, a plea echoed by the many public figures who have rallied to her cause. The outpouring of support highlights both the solidarity of Yemen’s civil society and the deep-seated frustration with the status quo.
Al-Hammadi’s case is not unique. It is, instead, part of a disturbing pattern in which women who step outside traditional roles or express dissent are targeted by those in power. Whether under the Houthis or the internationally recognized government, the space for women’s autonomy and expression remains perilously narrow.
As Yemen’s civil war drags on, stories like al-Hammadi’s cut through the fog of conflict, offering a human face to the abstract statistics of war and repression. Her release, while cause for celebration, is also a reminder of the work that remains to be done to ensure justice, equality, and dignity for all Yemenis—regardless of gender or political affiliation.
For now, Intisar al-Hammadi’s freedom stands as a small but significant victory for those who continue to fight for women’s rights and the rule of law in Yemen.
