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.
Further information
Posted 31/08/2007
On 27 August 2007, at approximately 2:00p.m, Abdul-Karim Al-Khaiwani was reportedly abducted by a gang of armed men on Al-zubari Street, in Sana'a and forced into an awaiting Toyota Land Cruiser. At the time of the incident he was with his colleagues Sami Ghalib, Editor on Chief of Al-Needa'a and Nabil Subai, Executive Editor in Chief of al Share'a, a weekly independent newspaper. Both were threatened with the same fate if they attempted to assist him. Abdul-Karim Al-Khaiwani was allegedly blind folded and pushed to the back of the car where the abductors held him down and kicked him before reaching a remote area in the outskirts of Sana'a. During the course of the journey Abdul-Karim Al-Khaiwani was interrogated and beaten by the assailants one of whom hit him in the face breaking his eye glasses and wounding his eyelid. He was also repeatedly asked which hand he used to write with, whilst his fingers were placed in a metal finger cutter. On arrival in the area of Bani Sah, Abdul-Karim Al-Khaiwani was pulled out of the car and beaten. He was then left by the abductors who told him that he was on the edge of a cliff and that if he moved he would fall. Before leaving him the assailants confiscated his mobile phone and money. Abdul-Karim Al-Khaiwani managed to remove his blindfold and made his way to the nearest village where he was then taken by car to a local hospital for treatment. His friends took him to the National Modern Hospital in Sana'a later that evening where he was treated for bruises and wounds to his left eye, right ear, abdomen, hands, and fingers.
Less than two weeks prior to the kidnapping, an article written by Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani was published in al Needa'a, on 16 August 2007. The article criticised the authorities for alleged violations against prisoners and the endemic corruption within the judicial system in Yemen. The abductors referred to the article on a number of occasions throughout the journey threatening to kill him, his wife and three children, if he continues to write such articles.
Front Line is extremely concerned that the afore-mentioned events are directly related to Abdul-Karim Al-Khaiwani's legitimate work in defence of human rights, in particular his recent article published in al Needa'a, which highlighted human rights violations in Yemeni prisons.
Action Finished:
This Urgent Appeal has now ended. No further action is requested at this point. Thank you for taking action on this case.
Front Line issues Urgent Appeals on behalf of human rights defenders at risk on a daily basis. These Appeals normally remain active on our web site for a period of up to six weeks, depending on the situation. After this time they will be archived. Front Line maintains a watching brief on all these cases but no further action is requested after the six weeks, unless there is a significant development in the case.
