A human rights report reveals 25 secret prisons and 763 cases of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance in southern and eastern provinces.

Human Rights Network Exposes Secret Prisons in Yemen

The Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms has revealed the existence of 25 secret prisons operated by armed factions linked to the now-defunct Southern Transitional Council. These facilities, located in various southern and eastern provinces, reportedly function outside the framework of the state and are overseen by foreign officers. The network emphasizes that these prisons operate as closed detention systems, evading judicial authority and public prosecution oversight. This situation represents a direct violation of state sovereignty and undermines its security and judicial decisions.

Documented Cases of Arbitrary Detention

According to the report, the network has documented 763 cases of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance, which include women, children, and African refugees. Currently, 714 civilians remain in custody, with their identities confirmed. The report also highlights a systematic targeting of individuals from northern provinces, with 254 detainees held based on regional discrimination. Additionally, it notes 37 deaths due to torture and the presence of secret graves in Aden and Hadramaut, where victims have been executed within detention centers.

Call for Accountability and Justice

The report holds the Southern Transitional Council and its armed factions fully accountable for these violations. It demands the immediate release of all detainees and the closure of state-exempt prisons. Furthermore, it calls for independent national and international investigations into crimes of detention, torture, and extrajudicial killings. Addressing these issues is deemed essential for achieving peace, justice, and national reconciliation in Yemen.

For more details, visit the full report here.

This report underscores the urgent need for action to protect human rights and restore justice in Yemen.

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