For over forty days now, the family of journalist Abdullah Bukair has been appealing to the official and unofficial authorities, as well as all interested parties, to release their son, who is being held at the Military Intelligence prison in the city of Mukalla, Hadramout Governorate.
According to information obtained by INSAF Center, the photojournalist Abdullah Bukair, who was working in the administration of the governor of Hadramout Governorate, was arrested on May 27, 2020. However, his family was not informed of the incident, and none of their relatives was informed of his fate until three days after the arrest. They were only able to discover his whereabouts after searching for him in various hospitals and police stations, which subsequently lead them to his detention at the Military Intelligence prison.
His family believes that he was subjected to abuse and torture in the military intelligence prison during this time. After several attempts and following up for a long period of time, the family was finally able to visit the detainee, but it became clear to them that he was suffering psychologically. His family now fears for the fate of their son, who’s health has begun to deteriorate fast, as he is suffering from food poisoning due to a deliberate negligence in the quality of food provided to him in prison.
We at INSAF Center for Defending Freedoms & Minorities, along with all of his fellow journalists and media professionals, and all who are concerned with freedoms and the protection of basic human rights, call upon the authorities at the Hadramout Governorate to look responsibility into this matter, which concerns one of their sons who are doing everything they can to serve their community. These authorities must bear their legal and moral responsibility in dealing with the detainee.
We also call upon the authorities in Hadramout governorate to respect legal procedures and release the detainee, as long as no legal action has been taken against him so far throughout the period of detention. At the same time, we hold everyone responsible for his arrest accountable, which has led to the deterioration of his mental and physical condition, and has resulted in harm to his parents and his four children, especially as one of these children has special needs.
At the same time, we also appeal to local and international organizations and to regional and international parties, to apply pressure on the local authorities in Hadramout governorate to respect human rights, and the right of journalist Abdullah Bukair to freedom, and to ensure that he obtains his basic right to defend himself and preserve his life and health, as well as the right of his family be able to check on him.
