Articles for Yemen

On 5 June 2008, Yasser al-Wazir left his home and made his way to his local mosque for Friday prayers. Somewhere between his home and the mosque he disappeared - and his family was unable to contact him on his mobile phone. It was only in mid-September 2008 that his family learned that he was being detained at the Political Security prison in Sana'a.

Ahmad al-Mahfili, whose case Alkarama had previously submitted to numerous UN special procedures, was finally released on 11 November 2009 - after more than nine months of arbitrary detention at Political Security headquarters in Sana'a.

Guards at the headquarters of the Political Security forces in Sana'a prevented media representatives and journalists from recording a peaceful gathering in front of the security headquarters on 10 November 2009.

For only the second time in the history of the Committee against Torture (CAT), a periodic review took place in absence of the State party delegation - the first being Cambodia's initial review on 29 April 2003. Alkarama was present for Yemen's CAT review on 3 November 2009, for which it had submitted a Shadow Report.

During its 43rd session, on 3 November 2009, the Committee against Torture will be examining Yemen's second periodic report.

While his family was asleep, at some time around midnight on 9 December 2006, Abdulrahman al-Hossami's home in Sana'a was raided by a 20-man drove of armed officers belonging to the military, the police and the Political Security forces. The agents arrived in unmarked vehicles, dressed in civilian clothing and carrying automatic weapons. They immediately surrounded the house and began an armed ambush.

In the early morning hours of 23 February 2009, the al-Mahfili family home was raided by Political Security forces wearing balaclavas and armed with automatic machine guns. Shots flew off as the security forces burst through their porch door and arrested Ahmad al-Mahfili, despite the fact that they were actually looking for his brother, who was not present.

Mr. Mohamed Al-Magaleh, a journalist and human rights defender, was kidnapped on 17 September 2009 by members of the Security Services in Sana'a and has since disappeared.

On his way home from midday prayers, Amin Al-Naggar noticed that someone was following him - he soon realized that Political Security agents were slowly pursuing him in military vehicles. Suspicious of their presence, he continued walking uncertain of what might happen. Within minutes, a plain-clothed agent confronted him and began to question him.

During the 43rd session of the Committee against Torture (CAT), to meet in Geneva from 2 to 20 November 2009, Yemen's second periodic report will be reviewed. This report was submitted to the Committee on 13 July 2007. The CAT has submitted questions to the Yemeni government requesting answers in a plenary session.