Geneva – SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties stated that the continued procrastination by Yemeni parties in addressing the file of the abducted and forcibly disappeared, coinciding with the start of the holy month of Ramadan, reflects a disturbing gap between declared commitments and the humanitarian reality experienced by thousands of Yemeni families. The organization emphasized that Ramadan, with its inherent values of mercy, solidarity, and reunion, should serve as an urgent moral incentive to conclude this file, rather than allowing it to pass while families' suffering remains a hostage to waiting and uncertainty.
SAM added that in the Yemeni collective consciousness, this month represents an occasion for healing wounds and the return of the absent. However, many families are welcoming it for yet another consecutive year with empty seats and hearts heavy with anxiety. The organization considers that ignoring this accumulated pain sends negative messages regarding the parties' concern for civilian suffering and undermines trust in any pledges related to improving the humanitarian situation.
The organization pointed out that the Muscat Agreement is still stalling, despite the wave of optimism that had previously swept over Yemeni families regarding the imminent resolution of this file and the release of detainees. It warned that continued stagnation dissipates hope and deepens the victims' feeling that their cause is being managed within narrow political calculations, whereas it should be treated as an urgent humanitarian and legal issue that cannot tolerate delay.
In this context, SAM noted that despite the hopes generated in past periods regarding potential progress in the file of forced disappearances and secret prisons in both Aden and Hadramout, current indicators raise concerns about the absence of a serious and transparent approach. The organization stressed that cases of forced disappearance and extra-judicial detention are not political files to be handled with administrative coldness, but rather grave crimes requiring independent and impartial investigations to reveal the fate of victims and ensure the accountability of those responsible.
SAM affirmed that the continued presence of systems or individuals suspected of involvement in these violations in their positions sends a negative image regarding the seriousness of reform. This hinders reaching quick and reliable results, reinforces a climate of impunity, and undermines community trust in law enforcement institutions.
The organization called on all parties to take immediate and concrete steps, starting with revealing the fate of the abducted and forcibly disappeared, enabling their families to obtain clear information, and working toward the unconditional release of those arbitrarily detained. It also emphasized that addressing this file represents a true test of commitment to protecting human dignity and consolidating the rule of law, and is a fundamental prerequisite for any serious path toward peace and confidence-building in Yemen.