Front Line expresses its concern regarding the ongoing arbitrary detention of Mr Ali Ahmad Al-Saqqaf, a teacher and member of the Yemeni Organization for the Defence of Democratic Rights and Freedoms (YODDRF) which campaigns for the protection of the rights of detainees.

Further Information

Ali Ahmad Al-Saqqaf was particularly involved in the campaign against human rights violations related to the conflict in Sa’da, north of Yemen.

Ali Ahmad Al-Saqqaf was originally arrested on 28 September 2009. Since then he has been detained at the headquarters of the Political Security Apparatus in the capital of Yemen, Sana’a. He has yet to be officially charged with any offence, and has been denied access to lawyers or legal advice. Recently, immediate family members were allowed to visit him but for only brief periods, and they were only allowed to speak with him from a distance in the presence of security agents. It has been reported that the prison authorities have learned that Ali Ahmad Al-Saqqaf suffers from hepatitis, but that he has not received appropriate medical treatment.

Please see the original Front Line Urgent Appeal on this case.