MDE 31/009/2006
UA 271/06
Possible prisoner of conscience/ fear for safety
YEMEN : ’Ali al-Dailami (m), human rights activist
10 October 2006
Amnesty International is concerned at reports that human rights activist ’Ali al-Dailami is being held incommunicado at an unconfirmed location, and may be at risk of torture and ill-treatment. He appears to be a prisoner of conscience, held solely as a result of his human rights work.
’Ali al-Dailami, Executive Director of the non-governmental organization, the Yemeni Organisation for the Defence of Democratic Rights and Freedoms, was reportedly arrested on 9 October by the security forces at the airport in the capital, Sana’a. He had been due to travel to Denmark as part of a delegation of representatives of non-governmental organizations from Yemen, in order to take part in a human rights partnership meeting in the Danish capital, Copenhagen.
’Ali al-Dailami’s current whereabouts are unconfirmed, but he is believed to be held in the Political Security (al- Amn al- Seyasi) prison in Sana’a without access to the outside world. The exact reason for his arrest is not known, but it is believed to be connected to his human rights work. He has previously campaigned on behalf of his brother, cleric Yahia al-Dailami, who was sentenced to death on 29 May 2005 after an unfair trial. Yahia al-Dailami’s death sentence was later commuted and he was released (see UA 182/05, MDE 31/012/2005, 7 July 2005, and follow-ups).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Amnesty International has repeatedly raised its concerns regarding arrests and detentions by the Political Security Organ in Yemen, which are carried out with total disregard for the rule of law and for Yemen’s international human rights obligations. Arrests are carried out without the judicial supervision required by law and those detained were invariably subjected to lengthy incommunicado detention and interrogations, during which some detainees claim that they were tortured or ill-treated. Detainees have also been denied access to lawyers, as well as being denied the opportunity to challenge the legality of their detention before a court.
RECOMMENDED ACTION : Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Arabic or your own language :
expressing concern for the safety of ’Ali al-Dailami, who is reportedly being held incommunicado ;
calling on the authorities to reveal his whereabouts, and to give him immediate access to his lawyer, relatives and any medical attention he may require ;
calling for ’Ali al- Dailami ’s immediate and unconditional release if he is held solely for reasons connected with his human rights activism ;
seeking urgent assurances that ’Ali al- Dailami is not being tortured or ill-treated in detention ;
reminding the authorities that the UN Declaration on the Rights and Responsibilities of Individuals, Groups and Institutions to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Liberties recognizes the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders and their right to carry out their activities without any fear of reprisals.
APPEALS TO :
President
His Excellency General ¥Ali ¥Abdullah Saleh
President of the Republic of Yemen
Sana’a
Republic of Yemen
Fax : + 967 127 4147
Salutation : Your Excellency
Minister of Interior
His Excellency Dr Rashid Muhammad al-Alimi
Ministry of Interior
Sana’a
Republic of Yemen
Fax : + 967 1 332 511
Salutation : Your Excellency
Minister of Human Rights
Her Excellency Kadijah al-Haysami
Ministry for Human Rights
Sana’a,
Republic of Yemen
Faxes : + 967 1 444 838
Salutation : Your Excellency
Ambassade de la République du Yémen
Avenue F.D. Roosevelt 114
1050 Bruxelles
Fax : 02.646.29.11
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 21 November 2006.
Communication au réseau Action Urgente septembre 2006
Nous vous souhaitons une bonne rentrée et nous espérons que vous avez passé de bonnes vacances. Pour le service des Actions Urgentes, il n’y a pas de vacances qui tiennent ! Et durant ces deux mois, nous avons reçu des « bonnes nouvelles » à la pelle. En voici quelques-unes :
Bouleversé par le soutien d’Amnesty International : Lorsqu’il s’est entretenu avec des représentants d’Amnesty International après sa libération, Weja Chicampo était fatigué et ému. Il a déclaré avoir été bouleversé par toutes les lettres envoyées par des membres de l’organisation. Il ne les avait pas vues lui-même, mais son cousin l’avait informé de l’arrivée de chacune de ces lettres. Il a remercié Amnesty International pour son soutien, et tout spécialement les membres qui se sont mobilisés en sa faveur.(AFR 24/003/2004 ; AU 116/04)
Honduras : le 23 juin, les prisonniers d’opinion Marcelino et Leonardo Miranda ont été acquitté et toutes les poursuites à leur encontre, dans une affaire de meurtre montée de toute pièce sûrement en représailles à leur combat en faveur des sans-terre, ont été abandonnées (AMR 37/006/2003 ; UA 128/03).
