Yemen's Human Rights Ministry: We are investigating reports of violations committed by citizens and foreigners

SadaNews - The Yemeni Ministry of Legal Affairs and Human Rights announced that it is investigating complaints alleging that entities and individuals, including citizens, foreign mercenaries, and individuals linked to the United Arab Emirates, are involved in serious violations, according to the Yemeni news agency (Saba).

The ministry stated in a statement today, Monday, that it has monitored reports related to incidents of assassinations, kidnappings, enforced disappearances, and detention in unofficial locations, in addition to torture practices.

It also indicated that it has reviewed local and international media and human rights reports revealing secret detention centers, including a report issued by "Human Rights Watch."

The ministry confirmed that it has started monitoring, documenting, and investigating procedures and has met with a number of victims, their relatives, and eyewitnesses. It has also conducted field visits to some locations described as secret detention centers, asserting that any entity or individual proven to be involved in these violations "will not be above the law."

Last week, the National Commission to Investigate Claims of Human Rights Violations reported that it has directly documented harsh testimonies from more than 100 victims who have faced arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance since 2016 in the coastal area of Hadhramaut governorate.

This came after member of the Presidential Council and Governor of Hadhramaut, Salem Al-Khanbashi, accused armed groups loyal to the Southern Transitional Council head, Aidarus Al-Zoubaidi, and the United Arab Emirates of being responsible for managing secret prisons in the governorate and committing numerous violations.

In response, the UAE Ministry of Defense denied Al-Khanbashi's claims, describing the accusations as false and misleading allegations without any evidence or truth, according to its statement.

The UAE ministry stated: "The facilities mentioned are merely military barracks, operations rooms, and fortified shelters, some of which are underground, which is common and known in various military bases and facilities around the world, and carries no implications outside the normal military context."

On the 12th of last month, the President of the Yemeni Presidential Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, directed the closure of all prisons and illegal detention centers and the immediate release of detainees held outside the legal framework.

These developments came after the government regained control over the eastern and southern provinces following the Southern Transitional Council, which calls for the separation of the south from the north, losing its military influence and the withdrawal of UAE forces from the country upon Al-Alimi's request, an action that received Saudi support.

Source: Yemeni press