Abdulwahab Mohammad Qatran, a Yemeni judge critical of the Huthi de facto authorities, was arbitrarily arrested by members of the Huthi security and intelligence service who broke into his house in Sana’a on January 2, 2024, threatened him and his family members, and interrogated them for long hours without the presence of a lawyer. The judge was then forcibly disappeared for three days. He has been placed in solitary confinement at the Huthi-controlled security and intelligence detention center in Sana’a and is denied his right to a lawyer. He must be immediately and unconditionally released.
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Contact information:
Ansarullah Spokesperson Mohamed Abdelsalam
Email: [email protected]
Twitter/X: @abdusalamsalah
sample letter:
Dear Mohamed Abdelsalam,
Judge Abdulwahab Mohammad Qatran, a vocal critic of the Huthi de facto authorities’ policies and human rights violations, has been arbitrarily detained by the Huthi security and intelligence forces since January 2, 2024. The judge was arrested two days after he wrote a social media post on December 31, 2023 that was critical of the Huthis. Following his arrest, he was subjected to enforced disappearance for three days. He was then placed in solitary confinement at the security and intelligence detention center in Sana’a and is denied his right to a lawyer.
According to one of his sons, he saw a car full of alcohol bottles displayed to the neighborhood as being allegedly discovered at the judge’s house to justify his arrest. Yemeni penal code criminalizes the manufacturing and drinking of alcohol.
The judge was then subjected to enforced disappearance for three days until the authorities confirmed to the family that he was held at the security and intelligence detention center in Sana’a. One of his sons was allowed to visit him briefly on January 6 and then on January 28. During the last visit, which lasted for less than a minute, the judge told his son “I am dead”. Since his arrest the judge has been denied access to a lawyer.
We urge the Huthi de facto authorities to immediately and unconditionally release judge Abdulwahab Mohammad Qatran as he is detained solely for peacefully exercising his human rights. Pending his release, the authorities must ensure he is protected from torture and other ill-treatment and that he has access to legal representation, regular family contact, and adequate healthcare.
Yours sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
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