Lawyer Madiha Ali Al-Shawoosh has filed a complaint alleging verbal abuse and intimidation by security personnel from the Criminal Investigation Department within the Al-Mansoura court premises in Aden, the interim capital. The incident has sparked widespread outrage among legal and human rights circles, signaling a concerning erosion of judicial authority and the overreach of security agencies within the justice system. According to the official complaint submitted by Al-Shawoosh, the incident began while she was representing clients in two cases, one involving drug use and another fraud, before the criminal judge. Al-Shawoosh stated that an armed and masked guard initially blocked her path, preventing her from speaking with her client in the detention cell after the session. Subsequently, the same individual allegedly approached her in a crude manner, ordering her to be silent and sit down, using threatening hand gestures and a loud voice in front of the judge's bench, disregarding her legal standing and right to defense. The alleged violations extended beyond intimidation, with the lawyer reporting perceived selectivity and suspicious practices within the courtroom. She observed that a defendant in a fraud case was permitted to leave the dock and sit freely with his family, while she and her clients in other cases faced restrictions. This perceived double standard prompted her to protest the blatant inconsistency. The complaint further details that the abuse escalated as the lawyer exited the courtroom to discuss the security breaches with a member of the public prosecution. Another officer reportedly deliberately blew cigarette smoke into her face and gestured aggressively near her eyes in a demeaning and provocative manner, uttering offensive remarks in the presence of attendees. The military police, responsible for court security, were reportedly absent or ineffective in addressing the situation. Legal circles in Aden have described the incident as an "unprecedented decline" in the treatment of lawyers, who are considered officers of the court. Observers noted that the transformation of the court premises from a sanctuary of justice into an arena for security thuggery undermines the remaining dignity of state institutions. In her complaint, Al-Shawoosh stated, "These actions not only violate my personal dignity but also undermine the prestige of the judiciary and contravene laws that mandate respect for lawyers while they perform their duties. Had I not exercised restraint, the situation could have escalated to unforeseen consequences." Lawyer Al-Shawoosh has urged the Bar Association and human rights organizations in Aden to initiate an immediate investigation into the involved personnel and to hold accountable those responsible for court security who permitted such transgressions. The aim is to ensure the protection of lawyers and safeguard the sanctity of the courts from the lawlessness of rogue security formations. |
