Condemning Deadly Violations Against Detainees in Yemen

February 12, 2025

Musaala for Human Rights expresses its deep shock over the death of detainee Rashid Issa Al-Hattam inside the Political Security Prison in Marib under mysterious circumstances that indicate possible torture, mistreatment, and neglect. This tragic incident raises serious concerns about the conditions of detainees in this notorious prison, which has previously been the subject of numerous complaints regarding human rights violations, including torture, ill-treatment, and denial of basic healthcare.

While we strongly condemn this incident, we welcome the local authorities’ announcement of an investigation committee to examine the circumstances surrounding Al-Hattam’s death. We urge the authorities to conduct a swift, independent, and transparent investigation and to make the findings public. If any violations or negligence are confirmed, those responsible must be held accountable. We also call for urgent improvements to detention conditions in the Political Security Prison in Marib, ensuring that all prisoners are treated in accordance with international human rights standards, including access to medical care and humane living conditions.

Meanwhile, on the evening of Tuesday, February 11, the United Nations announced the death of one of its employees, Ahmed Baalawi (30 years old), after being detained by the Houthi group. A UN statement revealed that a World Food Programme (WFP) aid worker had died in a prison in Saada Governorate, northern Yemen, three weeks after being arrested by the Houthis. The WFP confirmed that the employee was one of seven staff members detained by the Houthis on January 23, though no cause of death was disclosed.

Ansar Allah (Houthis) have pursued a systematic policy of repression and liquidation of detainees in their prisons since the onset of the conflict in Yemen. Numerous human rights reports have documented extrajudicial executions, torture leading to death, and the enforced disappearance of hundreds of detainees. The group uses arbitrary detention as a tool of political intimidation, targeting opposition figures, journalists, and activists. These crimes constitute flagrant violations of international humanitarian law, yet perpetrators continue to enjoy impunity.

We warn against the continued culture of impunity regarding prison abuses and emphasize that protecting detainees’ rights is not a choice but a legal and moral obligation that authorities must uphold and enforce.

Musaala Organization for Human Rights