The journalist Abdel Karim Al-Khaiwani, former editor of the electronic newspaper Al-Shura, has been captured by members of National Security Forces in the capital Sanaa on 20 June 2007. His life is in grave danger as he suffers from a heart condition, and the authorities have refused to allow him any medical attention.
Result of DI campaign:
- On July 19, 2007, the judge of the Specialised Criminal Court in Yemen decided to release Mr. Al-Khaiwani after being detained since June 20, 2007.
Campaign Status: Closed
Name: Abdel Karim Kiwani
Sex: Male
Country: Yemen
Category: Fear of torture / prisoners of conscience / concern about the prisoner’s health
The case:
Defend International is raising its concern about the arrest of journalist and writer Abdel Karim Al-Khaiwani by members of National Security Forces (Intelligence) in the capital Sanaa on 20-06-2007. He suffers from a heart condition, but the authorities have refused to allow him any medical attention. He is held at the Precautionary Detention Prison in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, where his lawyer has not been allowed to see him. He may to stand trial at the specialised Criminal Court in Yemen, whose proceedings repeatedly fall short of international standards for fair trial. On 25 June 2007 his imprisonment was renewed for further one month without his lawyer being present.
Mr. Al-Khaiwani, who is former editor of the electronic newspaper Al-Shura, may have been captured for his outspoken criticism of the Moroccan authority’s mass arrests of members of the Zaidi community and the assassinations of suspected followers of Hussein Badr Al-Din Al-Huthi.
Abdel Karim Al-Khaiwani seems to be a prisoner of conscience, held solely for his peaceful criticism of the government. He has been a longstanding leading critic of human rights violations committed against members of the Zaidi community.
Defend International has received a report from its DI Defender specialist in Yemen affairs with information about officers who stormed Mr. Al-Khaiwani?s home, dragged him from his bed, assaulted him and terrorized his wife and children.
DI Demands:
Defend International (DI) condemns this kind of actions and urge Yemeni authorities to release the journalist Abdel Karim Al-Khaiwani immediately and unconditionally unless he has been charged with a recognizable criminal offense.
DI also calls for him to be granted regular access to his family, lawyer, and any medical treatment he may require. DI would like to ask for details of the charges against him and when he will be brought to trail and reminds the authorities that they are bound by international standards for fair trail. And that the provisions on the right to freedom of expression must be in line with Yemen’s commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Defend International seeks urgent assurances that Abdel Karim Al-Khaiwani is not being tortured or ill-treated and demands Yemen to develop a mechanism to stop putting detainees at risk of torture.
In addition raise Defend International its deep concerns on the topic of detentions carried out by the Yemeni security forces with total disregard to all human rights principles and standards and for Yemen’s international human rights obligations. Usually arrests are carried out without any judicial supervision. The detainees are held and interrogated for lengthy periods without access to legal counsel or recourse to fair trial or any effective remedy to secure their release or to challenge the decision of arrest. They are often subjected to harassment, torture or ill-treatment.
Campaign:
Please copy the following appeals, add your signature and address and send them to arrive as soon as possible.
With thanks and appreciation
Defend International
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His Excellency General Ali Abdullah Saleh
President of the Republic of Yemen
Sanaa
Republic of Yemen
Fax: + 967 127 4147
Your Excellency,
Herby I am expressing my concern to learn that the journalist Abdel Karim Al-Khaiwani was reportedly detained on 20 June 2007, and call to release him immediately and unconditionally if he is held solely for his peaceful criticism of the government. Moreover I would like to remind you that you are bound by international standards for fair trail.
I am also concerned that he was assaulted during arrest, and is now held incommunicado, where torture is most frequently practiced. I seek urgent assurances that Abdel Karim Al-Khaiwani is not being tortured or ill-treated.
Furthermore I call on you to give him immediate access to his lawyer, and any medical treatment he may require. I would like to ask for details of the charges against him and when he will be brought to trail.
I hope for your urgent attention to this matter.
Respectfully yours,
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Her Excellency Houda Ali Abdullatif al-Baan
Ministry for Human Rights
Sanaa
Republic of Yemen
Faxes: + 967 1 444 838
Your Excellency,
Herby I am expressing my concern to learn that the journalist Abdel Karim Al-Khaiwani was reportedly detained on 20 June 2007, and call to release him immediately and unconditionally if he is held solely for his peaceful criticism of the government. Moreover I would like to remind you that you are bound by international standards for fair trail.
I am also concerned that he was assaulted during arrest, and is now held incommunicado, where torture is most frequently practiced. I seek urgent assurances that Abdel Karim Al-Khaiwani is not being tortured or ill-treated.
Furthermore I call on you to give him immediate access to his lawyer, and any medical treatment he may require. I would like to ask for details of the charges against him and when he will be brought to trail.
I hope for your urgent attention to this matter.
Respectfully yours,
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His Excellency Dr Rashid Muhammad al-Alimi
Ministry of Interior
Sanaa
Republic of Yemen
Fax: + 967 1 332 511
Your Excellency,
Herby I am expressing my concern to learn that the journalist Abdel Karim Al-Khaiwani was reportedly detained on 20 June 2007, and call to release him immediately and unconditionally if he is held solely for his peaceful criticism of the government. Moreover I would like to remind you that you are bound by international standards for fair trail.
I am also concerned that he was assaulted during arrest, and is now held incommunicado, where torture is most frequently practiced. I seek urgent assurances that Abdel Karim Al-Khaiwani is not being tortured or ill-treated.
Furthermore I call on you to give him immediate access to his lawyer, and any medical treatment he may require. I would like to ask for details of the charges against him and when he will be brought to trail.
I hope for your urgent attention to this matter.
Respectfully yours,