Geneva – SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties stated that the repeated assaults against peaceful female protesters in the city of Aden — most recently on Saturday, May 24 — by female recruits affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council represent a dangerous escalation in the ongoing repression of public freedoms. These actions constitute a blatant violation of the right to peaceful protest and freedom of expression, and infringe upon the legal and constitutional guarantees afforded to citizens in Yemen.

The organization pointed out that the excessive use of force — including beatings with batons and the confiscation of mobile phones to prevent documentation of the violations — reflects a systematic pattern of repression being increasingly employed by security forces in Aden. This conduct clearly contravenes both national and international laws, which prohibit the arbitrary use of force and emphasize the protection of peaceful demonstrators.

SAM noted that the events in Aden cannot be separated from the decision issued by the Security Committee on May 18, 2025, which banned all demonstrations and public gatherings. This decision was accompanied by gunfire into the air by armed elements affiliated with the Transitional Council in an attempt to disperse protesters.

The organization emphasized that the specific targeting of women in these violations adds another alarming dimension, exposing a fundamental lack of respect for human dignity and basic rights in the conduct of security operations within the city.

SAM stressed that the immediate release of all individuals detained in connection with these protests, and the prosecution of those responsible for the violations, is a necessary step to demonstrate the authorities’ seriousness in upholding the rule of law and restoring public trust, which continues to erode due to ongoing repression.

The organization called on the international community — particularly the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights — to intervene urgently to protect civilians in Aden and to ensure that such abuses are not repeated, as they undermine the city's stability and exacerbate tensions.