Detainee in Houthi Prisons Suffers Partial Blindness Amid Fears of Health Deterioration
Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
Special sources report that Asim Al-Ashari, who has been detained in the Intelligence and Security Service prison in Sana’a for over a year, has suffered partial vision loss in one eye. This incident has sparked concern among human rights activists and his family.
The source confirmed that Al-Ashari did not suffer from any health or vision problems before his arrest, raising suspicions about his exposure to torture or medical neglect inside the prison.
It is believed that prolonged solitary confinement and psychological deterioration may be behind the severe decline in his health.
The source demanded that the Houthis immediately release Al-Ashari or at least allow him to visit a specialized doctor to monitor his condition, warning that the continuation of the situation could lead to complete loss of his eyesight.
According to activist Majid Al-Khulaidi, Al-Ashari is a prominent consultant and civil society activist. He was arrested at the end of May 2024 in Dhamar city while traveling with his family from Sana’a to Aden. Since then, his family has been unable to visit him or check on his health.
In a worrying related development, Al-Ashari’s father suffered a severe stroke early last June and was transferred to the intensive care unit at the “Al-Yamani Al-Hadith” Hospital in Sana’a. He continues to suffer from serious complications, while his son has been prevented from visiting him. This further increases the family’s suffering and sparks widespread indignation among advocates for the cause of detainees in Houthi prisons.
