The National Commission to Investigate Allegations of Human Rights Violations has documented harrowing testimonies from over 100 victims of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance in the Hadramout coastal region. These abuses, according to the commission, have been occurring since 2016.
A member of the commission, attorney Ishraq al-Maqtari, stated that the victims, representing diverse social backgrounds, provided accounts detailing their experiences in five illegal prisons. Inside these facilities, they allegedly endured torture, enforced disappearance, and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.
The victims directly implicated military and security leaders, as well as entities affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These accusations follow claims made by local authorities in Hadramout alleging the STC and UAE were operating secret prisons within the governorate. The UAE Ministry of Defense has denied these allegations.
The commission, established by presidential decree in 2012, will analyze the testimonies, conduct legal assessments, and finalize its investigative findings. Al-Maqtari emphasized the commission’s commitment to documenting cases of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance, including inspecting government facilities allegedly used for illegal detention. Initial observations of three locations revealed cramped cells where detainees could not even stand upright.
The commission intends to complete its legal files and submit them to the judiciary for prosecution of perpetrators, justice for victims, and recommendations to the Yemeni government and the Human Rights Council. The commission affirmed its ongoing efforts to document testimonies of victims of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s state news agency reported that Salem al-Khanbashi, a member of the Presidential Council and Governor of Hadramout, was briefed on the commission’s field efforts, including the conditions of illegal prisons in Hadramout and the follow-up on reports related to detention outside the framework of the law.
