Tales of torture and horror: Inside Houthi prisons in Yemen
Arwa
Ibrahim, Al Jazeera, 11 Jun 2018
Ex-prisoners
tell their stories of torture, arbitrary detention and mistreatment in
Houthi-controlled prisons.
tell their stories of torture, arbitrary detention and mistreatment in
Houthi-controlled prisons.
 |
| Houthi authorities in Yemen have arbitrarily detained, tortured, and forcibly disappeared numerous opponents, says Human Rights Watch [Yahya Arhab/EPA] |
When
Farouk Baakar speaks, his voice is full of pain and anger as he describes his
“death-like experience” of being detained and tortured at the hands of
the Houthi
militia for 15 months in Yemen’s capital Sanaa.
Baakar, a
26-year-old doctor who was recently released after his family paid the group a
large sum of ransom money, is one of many Yemenis, including journalists, who
have been arbitrarily arrested and tortured by the Iran-backed militia that
took over Sanaa in 2014.
26-year-old doctor who was recently released after his family paid the group a
large sum of ransom money, is one of many Yemenis, including journalists, who
have been arbitrarily arrested and tortured by the Iran-backed militia that
took over Sanaa in 2014.
Baakar
says he was initially detained in Sanaa in November 2016 after treating a rebel
who fought the Houthis. “They (the Houthis) kept asking me why I had saved
his (the fighter’s) life. I told them it was my duty as a doctor,” he
tells Al Jazeera while recalling being forced out of the hospital where he worked
and into a car.
says he was initially detained in Sanaa in November 2016 after treating a rebel
who fought the Houthis. “They (the Houthis) kept asking me why I had saved
his (the fighter’s) life. I told them it was my duty as a doctor,” he
tells Al Jazeera while recalling being forced out of the hospital where he worked
and into a car.
Like many
prisoners in Yemen,
Baakar’s detention and enforced disappearance was just the beginning. While his
family was unaware of his whereabouts for months before they were eventually
told, Baakar says he was taken to a series of unidentified prisons and tortured
in various ways.
prisoners in Yemen,
Baakar’s detention and enforced disappearance was just the beginning. While his
family was unaware of his whereabouts for months before they were eventually
told, Baakar says he was taken to a series of unidentified prisons and tortured
in various ways.
“I
spent 50 days in an underground prison with barely any oxygen. I was hung by my
wrists from the ceiling and left in my own faeces and urine to rot. I wasn’t
allowed to wash once.
spent 50 days in an underground prison with barely any oxygen. I was hung by my
wrists from the ceiling and left in my own faeces and urine to rot. I wasn’t
allowed to wash once.
“They
extracted my fingernails and used a cable to press onto the flesh underneath. I
lost consciousness from the sheer amount of pain.”
extracted my fingernails and used a cable to press onto the flesh underneath. I
lost consciousness from the sheer amount of pain.”
“They
burned me with fire and dipped me in water that they’d run an electric current
through. They beat me with all sorts of electric cables and iron rods,”
explains Baakar, who says he saw nails, dead animals and body parts at some of
the detention centres while he was imprisoned.
burned me with fire and dipped me in water that they’d run an electric current
through. They beat me with all sorts of electric cables and iron rods,”
explains Baakar, who says he saw nails, dead animals and body parts at some of
the detention centres while he was imprisoned.
“In
that prison, I felt like I was already dead,” he adds.
that prison, I felt like I was already dead,” he adds.
Baakar
encountered fellow prisoners who had lost their eyesight or become severely ill
inside Houthi detention centres.
encountered fellow prisoners who had lost their eyesight or become severely ill
inside Houthi detention centres.
“I
saw detainees chained to the walls. They were bleeding around their feet, and
their wounds from the chains had become infected with puss and worms.
saw detainees chained to the walls. They were bleeding around their feet, and
their wounds from the chains had become infected with puss and worms.
“One
guy had been hung from his penis; he couldn’t urinate for two whole weeks. When
I saw him, I knew that was the end of his manhood,” says Baakar, who claims
that he was punished for trying to treat some of the detainees during his
imprisonment.
guy had been hung from his penis; he couldn’t urinate for two whole weeks. When
I saw him, I knew that was the end of his manhood,” says Baakar, who claims
that he was punished for trying to treat some of the detainees during his
imprisonment.
“As
a doctor, I couldn’t see them (the other detainees) suffer without trying to
help. Whenever I was caught, I was made to experience the same pain they
had,” he tells Al Jazeera.
a doctor, I couldn’t see them (the other detainees) suffer without trying to
help. Whenever I was caught, I was made to experience the same pain they
had,” he tells Al Jazeera.
I was
hung from the ceiling by my wrists and left in my own faeces and urine to rot.
In that prison, I felt like I was already dead.FAROUK
BAAKAR, FORMER DETAINEE IN HOUTHI PRISONS
The
Houthi armed group has controlled large parts of Yemen since late 2014. In
conjunction with forces loyal to the late and deposed President Ali Abdullah
Saleh, as well as state security and intelligence agencies, the
group has arbitrarily arrested, detained and disappeared its opponents, as well
as tortured and mistreated detainees, reported
Amnesty International in February.
The
Houthi crackdown intensified in March 2015, when a Saudi-led coalition of Arab
countries supporting the Abdel Mansour Hadi’s government, launched a massive bombing
campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi advances. The Saudi-led campaign,
supported by the UAE, has also resulted in massive civilian casualties – with
weddings, hospitals and funerals attacked.
Houthi crackdown intensified in March 2015, when a Saudi-led coalition of Arab
countries supporting the Abdel Mansour Hadi’s government, launched a massive bombing
campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi advances. The Saudi-led campaign,
supported by the UAE, has also resulted in massive civilian casualties – with
weddings, hospitals and funerals attacked.
Replying
to these claims, Houthi political bureau leader Mohamed al-Bukhati told Al
Jazeera: “All cases I investigated that alleged torture [in detention] led
to death or permanent injury were found to be false claims.
to these claims, Houthi political bureau leader Mohamed al-Bukhati told Al
Jazeera: “All cases I investigated that alleged torture [in detention] led
to death or permanent injury were found to be false claims.
“That
does not negate the fact that some journalists have been exposed to
harassment.”
does not negate the fact that some journalists have been exposed to
harassment.”
Human Rights
Watch (HRW) documented many of the human rights abuses suffered at the hands of
the Houthi authorities in Yemen.
Watch (HRW) documented many of the human rights abuses suffered at the hands of
the Houthi authorities in Yemen.
Although
many documented cases are in Houthi-controlled areas, the issue of arbitrary
arrests, enforced disappearances and torture is not happening exclusively in
Houthi prisons, according to HRW.
many documented cases are in Houthi-controlled areas, the issue of arbitrary
arrests, enforced disappearances and torture is not happening exclusively in
Houthi prisons, according to HRW.
“It
(the human rights abuse) is absolutely a problem in Houthi areas, but it is a
wider problem [than that],” Kristine Beckerle, Yemen and UAE researcher at
HRW told Al Jazeera.
(the human rights abuse) is absolutely a problem in Houthi areas, but it is a
wider problem [than that],” Kristine Beckerle, Yemen and UAE researcher at
HRW told Al Jazeera.
“We’ve
also documented arbitrary detention and forced disappearances in prisons under
government control, as well as in areas under the control of UAE-backed
forces.”
also documented arbitrary detention and forced disappearances in prisons under
government control, as well as in areas under the control of UAE-backed
forces.”
Deaths in
detention
detention
While
human rights groups inside and outside of Yemen have been able to record many
cases of torture in detention, they have also documented some cases of deaths
in custody.
human rights groups inside and outside of Yemen have been able to record many
cases of torture in detention, they have also documented some cases of deaths
in custody.
“No
one will know the truth unless there is a credible investigation into what
happened,” Beckerle told Al Jazeera.
one will know the truth unless there is a credible investigation into what
happened,” Beckerle told Al Jazeera.
HRW documented
two deaths in custody in 2016, but Um Muhammed from the Sanaa-based Association
of Abductees’ Mothers says the actual number of deaths in detention is much
higher.
two deaths in custody in 2016, but Um Muhammed from the Sanaa-based Association
of Abductees’ Mothers says the actual number of deaths in detention is much
higher.
“We’ve
documented at least 117 cases of death in custody that seem to have either been
caused by torture or neglect,” she said.
documented at least 117 cases of death in custody that seem to have either been
caused by torture or neglect,” she said.
The
association is looking into the death in custody of Muhammed Ghurab, a 28-year-old
pharmacist from Sanaa who was detained four years ago and reportedly died in
Houthi prisons last week.
association is looking into the death in custody of Muhammed Ghurab, a 28-year-old
pharmacist from Sanaa who was detained four years ago and reportedly died in
Houthi prisons last week.
We have
documented extreme forms of abuse including people dying in detention.KRISTINE
BECKERLE, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
According
to a source close to Ghurab’s family, the family received his body on Friday
after they were informed by the Houthis that he died as a result of contracting
tuberculosis while in detention.
to a source close to Ghurab’s family, the family received his body on Friday
after they were informed by the Houthis that he died as a result of contracting
tuberculosis while in detention.
“His
family visited him a few weeks ago. His mother nearly passed out from what she
saw. He was extremely thin and he complained of severe chest pains,” said
the source who did not wish to be named for fear of retribution.
family visited him a few weeks ago. His mother nearly passed out from what she
saw. He was extremely thin and he complained of severe chest pains,” said
the source who did not wish to be named for fear of retribution.
“The
symptoms Muhammed had complained of when the family visited didn’t align with
tuberculosis,” added the source, who believes Ghurab had either died from
neglect or was poisoned.
symptoms Muhammed had complained of when the family visited didn’t align with
tuberculosis,” added the source, who believes Ghurab had either died from
neglect or was poisoned.
According
to the source, there have been five other cases of reported deaths at the same
detention centre – the political security prison in Sanaa – since Ghurab’s
death.
to the source, there have been five other cases of reported deaths at the same
detention centre – the political security prison in Sanaa – since Ghurab’s
death.
 |
| The Yemen conflict escalated in March 2015 after a Saudi-led coalition of Arab countries launched a massive bombing campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi advances [Yahya Arhab/EPA] |
Enforced
disappearance
In
addition to torture in detention, systematic kidnapping and imprisonment are
widely reported in Houthi-controlled areas.
addition to torture in detention, systematic kidnapping and imprisonment are
widely reported in Houthi-controlled areas.
The case
of Abdel Hadi al-Shami, 38, who was released about a month ago after a two-year
stint in Houthi prisons, is one example of the many who were disappeared and
tortured by the Houthis.
of Abdel Hadi al-Shami, 38, who was released about a month ago after a two-year
stint in Houthi prisons, is one example of the many who were disappeared and
tortured by the Houthis.
Al-Shami,
a sheikh leader of the Arhab tribe, one of the most prominent tribes in Sanaa,
said his family was unaware of his whereabouts for five months before they came
to visit him for the first time.
a sheikh leader of the Arhab tribe, one of the most prominent tribes in Sanaa,
said his family was unaware of his whereabouts for five months before they came
to visit him for the first time.
“When
I was detained, I was moved from one prison or detention centre to the next
without my family knowing anything about where I had gone,” said al-Shami.
“When my family finally came, it only lasted eight minutes.”
I was detained, I was moved from one prison or detention centre to the next
without my family knowing anything about where I had gone,” said al-Shami.
“When my family finally came, it only lasted eight minutes.”
Al-Shami
was released as part of a prisoner exchange deal between his tribe and the
Houthis and, a month later, still complains of the effects of the torture he
experienced in detention.
was released as part of a prisoner exchange deal between his tribe and the
Houthis and, a month later, still complains of the effects of the torture he
experienced in detention.
“I
was chained and hung from the ceiling for hours and then left blindfolded and
in solitary confinement for three months. I lost some of my eyesight as a
result,” says al-Shami who recalls being left in a cell with a snake for
10 hours.
was chained and hung from the ceiling for hours and then left blindfolded and
in solitary confinement for three months. I lost some of my eyesight as a
result,” says al-Shami who recalls being left in a cell with a snake for
10 hours.
“The
dents caused by the chains around my wrists are still deep and visible
today,” he adds.
dents caused by the chains around my wrists are still deep and visible
today,” he adds.
The
Houthi crackdown on opponents has affected a wide range of opposition forces,
but activists and journalists have been specifically targeted.
Houthi crackdown on opponents has affected a wide range of opposition forces,
but activists and journalists have been specifically targeted.
According
to Baraa Shiban, a Yemeni human rights activist and caseworker at Reprieve,
most individuals who have been targeted by the Houthi militia are “usually
activists from 2011”, when the Arab Spring swept through the region.
to Baraa Shiban, a Yemeni human rights activist and caseworker at Reprieve,
most individuals who have been targeted by the Houthi militia are “usually
activists from 2011”, when the Arab Spring swept through the region.
“There
was a general feeling among the Houthis that by arresting all the activists
since 2011, they could suppress any possible scenario of protest or any form of
public anger,” said Shiban. “And so, since September 2014, many of
these activists have been picked up from their homes and places of work.”
was a general feeling among the Houthis that by arresting all the activists
since 2011, they could suppress any possible scenario of protest or any form of
public anger,” said Shiban. “And so, since September 2014, many of
these activists have been picked up from their homes and places of work.”
“Today,
you can’t see protests against the Houthis in Sanaa, nor hear a single voice of
opposition. It (these tactics) have helped them control the narrative coming
out [of Sanaa].”
you can’t see protests against the Houthis in Sanaa, nor hear a single voice of
opposition. It (these tactics) have helped them control the narrative coming
out [of Sanaa].”
The dents
caused by the chains around my wrists are still deep and visible today.ABDEL
HADI AL-SHAMI, FORMER DETAINEE IN HOUTHI PRISONS
In a 2016
Amnesty International report
that documented the cases of 60 individuals who were arbitrarily arrested and
forcibly disappeared in prisons in areas under Houthi-Saleh control, the
organisation highlighted the targeting of “journalists and activists [who]
have been detained for more than two
years, had their offices looted
or closed,
and had their friends and family members threatened”.
Amnesty International report
that documented the cases of 60 individuals who were arbitrarily arrested and
forcibly disappeared in prisons in areas under Houthi-Saleh control, the
organisation highlighted the targeting of “journalists and activists [who]
have been detained for more than two
years, had their offices looted
or closed,
and had their friends and family members threatened”.
Among
those documented by human rights organisations is the case of Yousif Ajlan, a
29-year-old former journalist for Al-Masdar news website in Sanaa, who was
detained in October 2016 for more than a year.
those documented by human rights organisations is the case of Yousif Ajlan, a
29-year-old former journalist for Al-Masdar news website in Sanaa, who was
detained in October 2016 for more than a year.
He says
his family was unaware of his whereabouts for 26 days before they were finally
informed.
his family was unaware of his whereabouts for 26 days before they were finally
informed.
“When
my family finally came to visit me forty days after my abduction, the prison
guards beat me and denied me from speaking to them,” recalls Ajlan.
my family finally came to visit me forty days after my abduction, the prison
guards beat me and denied me from speaking to them,” recalls Ajlan.
Ajlan,
who now lives in Istanbul, said he was released in November 2017 as part of a
prisoner exchange agreed between the Houthis and the government of President
Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
who now lives in Istanbul, said he was released in November 2017 as part of a
prisoner exchange agreed between the Houthis and the government of President
Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
The
Houthis had forced him to stop working as a journalist a few months prior to
his abduction, but he was still taken anyway, he said.
Houthis had forced him to stop working as a journalist a few months prior to
his abduction, but he was still taken anyway, he said.
“The
Houthis consider every opponent an enemy or traitor. I left journalism and
worked as a taxi driver, but the Houthis still came for me,” explained
Ajlan, who says that he had been initially detained in 2015 and threatened with
death if he did not stop reporting.
Houthis consider every opponent an enemy or traitor. I left journalism and
worked as a taxi driver, but the Houthis still came for me,” explained
Ajlan, who says that he had been initially detained in 2015 and threatened with
death if he did not stop reporting.
“They
consider journalists the biggest threat to them. Sanaa is now empty of
journalists. The few that remain are Houthi propagandists,” said Ajlan.
consider journalists the biggest threat to them. Sanaa is now empty of
journalists. The few that remain are Houthi propagandists,” said Ajlan.
