Yemen:UPDATE - Human rights defender Mu een Al-Mutawakel released while Yasre Al-Wazeer remains in detention

Front Line welcomes the release of human rights defender Mr Mu’een Ibraheem Al-Mutawakel on 30 June 2009 from the Political Security Prison in San'a where he had been held since his arrest on 27 May 2008. Mu’een Ibraheem Al-Mutawakel is a member of the Organization for Change and the Defence of Rights and Freedoms (OCDRF), an organisation that works for judicial and prison reform.

Further Information

Front Line remains deeply concerned about the ongoing detention without charge of human rights defender, Mr Yasre Abdul-Wahab Al-Wazeer, a member of the Yemeni Organization for the Defence of Rights and Democratic Freedoms (YODRFD), which campaigns for the protection of the rights of detainees, particularly those related to the Sa’da conflict.

Yasre Abdul-Wahab Al-Wazeer is among many others who are detained in relation to the Sa’da conflict. They are currently being held in the Political Security Prison in Sana’a, where it is feared, they have been subjected to torture and ill-treatment. They have been denied legal consultation, regular visits and have not been officially charged.

On 12 September 2008, the Yemeni President, Ali Abdullah Saleh, ordered the release of all prisoners related to the Sa’da conflict who had not been convicted. However, it is believed that at least 69 individuals related to this conflict, including the aforementioned human rights defender, remain in detention.

Human rights organisations and families of the detainees have been organising a monthly demonstration in Sana’a to call for the release of these detainees; the most recent was on 30 June 2009.

Following a meeting between representatives of the protesters and the General Prosecutor, the latter issued a letter to the president of Yemen complaining against the Political Security Apparatus for keeping those persons in detention despite orders from the General Prosecutor to refer their cases to the prosecution office or release them.

Front line had previously reported on the arbitrary detention and fear of torture of four human rights defenders: Yasre Abdul-Wahab Al-Wazeer (still in detention), Ali Ali Yahya Al-Emad (released on 2 Dec. 08), Khalid Abdul-Wahab El-Sharif (released on 19 Dec. 08) and Mu’een Ibraheem Al-Mutawakel (released on 30 June 09).

Refer to last update:Previous Front Line Appeal

Front Line believes that Yasre Abdul-Wahab Al-Wazeer was targeted as a result of his peaceful human rights activities. Front Line is particularly concerned by the trend of incommunicado detentions in Yemen, a practice which violates international norms and has been known to facilitate torture and ill-treatment.

Front Line urges the authorities in Yemen to:

1. Grant the immediate and unconditional release of Yasre Abdul-Wahab Al-Wazeer, as he is reportedly being detained solely on the basis of his legitimate non-violent human rights work;

2. Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the allegations of torture and ill-treatment against Yasre Abdul-Wahab Al-Wazeer and other human rights defenders while in detention, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;

3. Ensure that the treatment of the aforementioned human rights defenders while in detention, adheres to all those conditions set out in the ‘Basic Principles for Treatment of Prisoners, adopted by General Assembly resolution 45/111 of 14 December 1990’;

4. Ensure that all human rights defenders in Yemen are free to carry out their legitimate human- rights work without fear of restrictions or reprisals.