An inmate was discovered deceased inside a Houthi-controlled prison in Jabalah district, Ibb Governorate, under suspicious circumstances. The individual, identified as Hassan Abdo Ali Al-Yafi'i, had reportedly completed his sentence weeks prior, according to local sources. Sources indicated that Al-Yafi'i, who hails from the Warraf region, was found hanged in his cell. Prison authorities have claimed the death was a suicide. The sources further elaborated that Al-Yafi'i had served his three-month sentence but remained in detention for an additional six weeks. This extended incarceration was reportedly due to his inability to pay a fine of approximately half a million Yemeni Riyals, issued in a case pending before the Jabalah court. It was also stated that the deceased suffered from psychological distress, supported by medical reports. However, authorities under Houthi control allegedly disregarded his health condition and continued his detention without consideration for his circumstances. The incident has prompted widespread condemnation from local and human rights circles. Activists are calling for an independent and transparent investigation into the circumstances of the death, particularly given the recurring pattern of similar incidents in Houthi-controlled prisons, which are frequently recorded as suicides. Observers suggest that these events reinforce allegations of serious violations within detention centers controlled by the militia, including medical neglect and mistreatment, amid a lack of oversight and accountability. |
