Yemen

The Definition of Terrorism in Domestic Law

Yemen is one of the very few countries in the world that does not specifically criminalize terrorism in its domestic law. Draft counterterrorism legislation has been pending in Parliament since 2008. In 2022, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) organized a workshop in Aden on the development of new counterterror law.

A 2010 law on terrorism financing stipulates that terrorism financing pertains to anyone who:

(a) collects or provides, directly or indirectly, funds by any means whatsoever, knowing that they will be used, in whole or in part, to finance the commission of the following acts:

Any act of violence or threat thereof, whatever its motives or purposes, committed in implementation of an individual or collective criminal enterprise aimed at spreading terror among people or intimidating them by harming them, endangering their lives, freedom or security, causing damage to the environment or a public or private facility or property, occupying or seizing them, endangering a national resource or compelling a government or international organization to carry out any unlawful act or refrain from Any legitimate work.

2. Any act constituting an offence falling within the scope of one of the relevant conventions or treaties to which the Republic has ratified or acceded.

3. Any act that constitutes a crime stipulated in the Law on Combating Kidnapping and Banditry.

Any person who attempts to commit, participates, incites or assists in the commission of any of the acts mentioned in paragraph (a) of this Article.

Cases of struggle by various means against foreign occupation and aggression for liberation and self-determination in accordance with the principles of international law shall not be considered as offences covered by this article.Art. 4, 2010 Law on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Law No. 1 on combating money laundering and terrorist financing). 

Adherence to Global and Regional Terrorism Treaties

Yemen is a State Party to all of the main United Nations treaties on terrorism.

Yemen is also a State Party to one of the two main regional treaties on terrorism.

Laws and Penalties for Terrorist Offences

The death penalty is imposable for many criminal offences under Yemeni law.

Counterterrorism Capacities and Policies at Domestic Level

Yemen does not have dedicated counterterrorism expertise in its police force, to the extent it is still functioning. The ongoing armed conflict in Yemen has led to a fractured State.