We at INSAF Center are following up on the actions taken by international parties as well as the parties of the conflict in Yemen seeking to release prisoners and detainees. While we encourage these good efforts, we stress the importance of taking into consideration those who have no voice in this conflict. We hope in particular that those imprisoned and have no representation will be seen as victims of freedom of opinion & belief.
We address the representatives of the international community, represented by Mr. Martin Griffith, as well as other international parties and diplomats seeking to complete the prisoner exchange process. There are detainees who’s only fault is that they differ in opinion or belief. They did not carry arms against anyone nor did they attack anyone.
The Jewish citizen Libby Salem Marhabi was arrested in March of 2016 by the security forces under the control of the Houthis in the capital, Sana’a, and remains in prison until today suffering from several diseases and abuse which threatens his life.
On July 29, 2019, the Appeals Division of the Public Funds Court issued a decision to expedite the release of Libby along with the accused individuals with him, which was also followed by a similar decision on September 23, 2019, where the division ruled for the prompt release of Libby and those detained along with him, who were held in a case related to smuggling a manuscript, being satisfied with the period of imprisonment they had already spent. Indeed, all of the defendants in this same case were released, except for Libby who was kept in prison because he belongs to a different religion, and no other reason.
Despite the demands and follow-ups directed towards the security authorities to release him and uphold the instructions of the judicial agencies, the security services refuse to implement these judicial orders and continue to detain and torture him physically and psychologically for religious reasons.
The Center has been trying, through its communications on a local and international level, to draw attention to the enormity of the injustice that Libby faces. Unfortunately, he is still in prison and his release has not been seriously considered. And in light of the extreme secrecy of the security services, which seem to be exercising their own agenda, which do not recognize those who differ with them in religion or opinion.
We would also like to affirm the case of the kidnapped young man, Abdullah Bakir, who is still in the prisons of the security authorities in Hadramout governorate, without clear justifications for his detention. This calls for direct intervention in order to oblige all of these parties to respect the basic rights and freedoms of expression and belief. We also affirm the necessity of the release of the kidnapped, disappeared, and death row journalists, Abd Al-Khaliq Amran, Tawfiq Al-Mansouri, Al-Harith Hamid & Akram Al-Walidi.
We address this message directly to the international parties, diplomats and mediators who are trying earnestly to save prisoners of the warring parties to make part of their efforts to represent those without any representation in these negotiations, and to impose obligations on all sides for the release of detainees in their prisons. We hope that all prisoners of opinion and belief be reunited safely with their families soon.
