Yemeni Families Demand Action on Detainees and Forced Disappearances in Aden

The Association of Mothers of Abductees in Yemen has urged the internationally recognized government to take immediate measures to reveal the fate of individuals who have been abducted and forcibly disappeared, demanding an end to the suffering of hundreds of families who have been unaware of their loved ones' whereabouts for years.

The demands were articulated during a protest organized by the association on Tuesday in front of the local authority building in Al-Mualla district, Aden, the temporary capital. Families of abductees, activists, and human rights defenders participated in the demonstration.

Participants held up photographs of the missing and displayed banners calling for the disclosure of their detention locations and the accountability of those involved in abduction and forced disappearance operations. They emphasized that the continued lack of resolution on this issue constitutes a violation of fundamental rights and exacerbates the suffering of the families.

In a statement released during the protest, the association declared that knowing the fate of the abducted and forcibly disappeared is a "legal and humanitarian right that cannot be postponed." They called for the release of arbitrarily detained individuals and for justice and compensation for the victims and their families for years of pain and uncertainty.

The United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross were also urged to intensify their efforts to pressure all parties involved, uncover the locations of the forcibly disappeared, and enable their families to learn their fate.

The association addressed an appeal to the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, his deputy, Mahmoud Al-Subaihi, the Attorney General, Qahir Mustafa, and the Director of Aden Police, Muthar Al-Shuaibi, calling for practical steps to implement directives concerning the forcibly disappeared and to prosecute those responsible for violations and bring them to justice.

The mothers of the abductees stressed that the persistent lack of serious engagement with this issue intensifies the suffering and deepens the anxiety experienced by the families, emphasizing that achieving justice begins with uncovering the truth and holding those responsible for violations accountable.

The protest concluded with the display of photographs of the abducted and forcibly disappeared in the event square, accompanied by the lighting of candles. This symbolic act served to underscore their ongoing demand for the disclosure of their loved ones' fates and for justice for their families.