Yemen

Human rights defender, Mr Salah Yahya el-Saqladi, has been held incommunicado in an unconfirmed location since his arrest on 18 June 2009. Salah el-Saqladi is a journalist and the head of the Aden branch of the Organization for Change and the Defense of Rights and Freedoms (OCDRF). 

Front line is concerned for the safety of human rights defender Mr Ali Hussain al-Dailami, who has reportedly been receiving direct threats and nuisance calls and messages in reaction to his role in the ongoing campaign for the release of detainees related to the Sa’da conflict. Ali Hussain al-Dailami is the executive director of the Yemeni Organization for the Defence of Democratic Rights and Freedom, and was previously a victim of detention and alleged torture in 2006. 

Update

Front Line welcomes the release of human rights defender, Khalid Abdul-Wahab El-Sharif from prison on Friday 19 December. He had been detained since 5 July 2008 in the Political Security Prison, San´a, where he had been denied legal consultation, regular visits and was never officially charged. Despite his release, Front Line remains deeply concerned about the ongoing detention without charge of human rights defenders, Mr Yasre Abdul-Wahab Al-Wazeer and Mr Mu’een Ibraheem Al-Mutawakel. 

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that human rights defender and journalist Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani has been subjected to ill-treatment while in prison. Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani is former Editor-in-Chief of the pro-democracy online publication Al-Shoura. He is a pro-democracy activist and a campaigner for the right to freedom of expression in Yemen, and was recently awarded the 2008 Amnesty International UK Special Award for Human Rights Journalism Under Threat. On 9 June 2008, Abdul Al-Khaiwani was sentenced to six years' imprisonment after being convicted by a state security court in Sana'a of conspiracy with anti-government rebels; on the basis of allegations which are believed to be fabricated. 

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that human rights defender and journalist Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani is facing charges of having terrorism ties and that his trial due to take place on 21 May has been postponed. Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani is former Editor-in-Chief of the pro-democracy online newspaper Al-Shoura, and a campaigner for the right to freedom of expression in Yemen. He has been nominated for the 2008 Amnesty International UK's special award for human rights journalist under threat but might not be able to attend the Award Ceremony on 8 July 2008 due to a travel ban imposed upon him by the Yemeni authorities. 

Front Line is concerned following reports of the abduction of the human rights defender and journalist Abdul-Karim Al-Khaiwani in Sana'a, on 27 August 2007. Front Line previously wrote to you on 28 June 2007 expressing concern about the arrest and detention of Abdul-Karim Al-Khaiwani.