Hadramawt Authorities Have Resorted to Tribal Arbitration in The Case of Two Individuals Who Died in A Prison Run by Emirati Forces
Yemen Monitor / Exclusive / Hadramawt:
Al Kathir and Al Ja’far tribes in the Shibam district of Hadramawt today announced their tribal ruling regarding the deaths of Kamil bin Talib and his son Abdullah, who died a year ago in a prison run by Emirati forces at Al Rayan Airport in Al Mukalla.
The ruling stipulates that the local authority must pay 2.5 million Saudi Riyals and enlist thirty individuals from the tribe, with the victims’ next of kin authorized to submit the names. The ruling also demanded the release of the victims’ relative, Hassan Kamil bin Talib, who remains in prison.
This ruling was issued based on the tribal arbitration requested by the local authority under the patronage of Hadramawt Governor Mabkhout bin Madi. The authorities turned to tribal customs seeking a settlement after the case was brought before Al Kathir tribe and the victims’ family. The announcement was attended by the Governor, the Deputy Governor for Valley Affairs, Mr. Amer Al-Amiri, along with military, security, social, and religious leaders.
According to the tribal ruling, the next of kin are obliged to drop all cases and reports filed with any judicial authority, renounce any associated personal or civil rights, and refrain from pursuing claims before any other customary or official bodies. They are also required to receive the bodies and conduct burial ceremonies.
The case dates back to July 20, 2022, when a security force raided the home of Kamil Ali Muhammad bin Talib Al Kathiri and arrested him along with his son. They were taken to the security department under the pretext of taking their statements, after which they were sent to Al Rayan Airport in Al Mukalla. The Emirati forces had converted the airport into a military camp and prison, which has witnessed cases of death under torture.
According to the SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties, the two forcibly disappeared individuals remained unaccounted for two full years, with no information about their lives until their bodies were returned to Seiyun Hospital in April 2024. The family was then summoned to receive the bodies, sparking public, human rights, and tribal outrage. The family resorted to the judiciary, filing a case demanding the trial of those involved, before the current Governor, Mabkhout bin Madi, turned to tribal arbitration, leading to today’s ruling.
Observers view the local authority’s resort to tribal customs as an attempt to cover up the scandal, especially since the victims belong to an influential tribe, forcing the authority to seek solutions outside the legal framework, which would require holding the perpetrators accountable. Their acceptance of the ruling, which includes a substantial financial sum, reflects a desire to close the case, in which Emirati forces are implicated.
