Torture Victim Loses his “Mental Stability” … New Details About Secret Prisons Attributed to the UAE in Yemen

Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:

Muath Al-Zekri, a journalist with the Associated Press, published a video clip on his social media accounts showing one of the victims of secret prisons in Yemen in a severely deteriorated psychological state, which he said was the result of what the victim endured during his detention.

Al-Zekri wrote in a caption accompanying the video:
“A glimpse of what detainees are subjected to inside secret prisons linked to the Abu Dhabi government and the Southern Transitional Council in Aden. One of the victims has lost his mental stability as a result of torture.”

According to a previous investigation by the Associated Press, a former detainee spoke about his experience inside prisons run by UAE-backed forces in Aden, revealing the use of harsh and systematic torture methods that caused him severe physical and psychological harm, as part of what he described as a series of violations inflicted on detainees.

For her part, Huda Al-Sarari, head of the Defense for Rights and Freedoms organization, stated that the organization had received recent reports confirming that armed elements affiliated with the Counter-Terrorism Forces in Aden had re-detained the same individual who had previously been found lying in the street, suffering from clear signs of detention and torture.

Al-Sarari explained that the available information indicates that what the victim endured led to a serious deterioration in his psychological and mental condition, warning of grave risks to his safety.

She added that this case, which has sparked widespread attention, represents a stark example of violations attributed to the Counter-Terrorism Forces, stressing that the relevant security authorities bear full legal responsibility for the victim’s safety and life.

Al-Sarari called for an urgent and independent investigation into the circumstances of the incident, ensuring the victim’s protection, providing him with the necessary medical and psychological care, and enabling judicial and oversight bodies to carry out their duties in accordance with the Yemeni constitution, national laws, and international human rights obligations.