Geneva – SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties stated that the campaign of arbitrary arrests carried out by the UAE-backed Hadhrami Elite Forces, which targeted several Yemeni officers in the Second Military Region of Hadhramaut Governorate, constitutes a grave violation of human rights and a blatant breach of Yemeni sovereignty. This development reflects a dangerous policy of repression and intimidation pursued by the UAE in areas under its control.
According to the information received, the Hadhrami Elite Forces raided the homes and offices of several officers, including Major General Muhammad Saleh Al-Yabani, Chief of Staff of the Second Military Region, Major General Muhammad Al-Yamani, and Brigadier General Ghaythan Al-Bahsani, Commander of the Al-Ahqaf Brigade, along with others. These arrests were made without legal justification and on frivolous charges, in a scene that reflects a disregard for national laws and a blatant violation of the protection guaranteed to military personnel under the Yemeni Constitution and International Humanitarian Law.
The organization emphasized that these arbitrary arrests represent a blatant assault on individuals' rights to freedom and personal security, directly contradicting legal guarantees that prohibit detention outside the law. This violation is a clear breach of Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees every individual the right to freedom and prohibits arbitrary detention. Additionally, this security campaign, directed by the UAE, constitutes an unacceptable infringement on Yemeni sovereignty, as the UAE uses local forces outside the state framework to implement its agendas, in a blatant violation of the UN Charter, which emphasizes respect for state sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.
SAM considered these incidents to unequivocally demonstrate that the UAE treats Hadhramaut as if it were a zone of influence under its control, rather than part of an independent sovereign state. The organization warned that the continuation of this repressive policy and the use of military force to impose political dictates would lead to further tensions and divisions, threatening security and social peace in the governorate and undermining efforts to achieve stability in Yemen. SAM called for an immediate halt to all forms of violations that affect the dignity of Yemenis and threaten the stability and safety of their country.
SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties demands the immediate and unconditional release of all detained officers and the cessation of all illegal actions against them. The organization also calls for an independent international investigation into these violations and accountability for those responsible, to ensure that such practices do not recur and contribute to prolonging the Yemeni crisis.
The organization holds the Presidential Council and the Yemeni government responsible for protecting state institutions and their personnel, urging them to take a clear and firm stance against these violations and work towards ending Emirati dominance over military decisions in Hadhramaut and other Yemeni regions. SAM also calls on the United Nations and the international community to intervene urgently to pressure the UAE to stop its unauthorized interventions in Yemen and ensure respect for human rights and international law.