A Protest Vigil in Taiz Demands the Houthis Reveal the Fate of Mohammed Qahtan and Release Him
Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The city of Taiz (southwestern Yemen) witnessed a protest vigil on Friday demanding the Houthi group reveal the fate of the political leader Mohammed Qahtan, who has been detained by them since 2015, and immediately release him, amid continued ambiguity regarding his status.
Protesters gathered in Freedom Square in the city center, raising banners calling for an end to Qahtan’s detention and allowing him to communicate with his family. They emphasized that there are still indicators that he remains alive, and called on international organizations and the United Nations to redouble pressure to reveal his fate.
Participants considered Qahtan’s case to be one of the most prominent files of enforced disappearance in Yemen, calling for it to be treated as a humanitarian issue that requires urgent action to ensure his release and to hold those responsible for his continued detention accountable.
The vigil comes after renewed controversy regarding Qahtan’s fate, following the circulation of statements attributed to the Houthi group about his death, followed by the handover of remains that the group claimed belonged to him. However, his family and Yemeni political leaders questioned that narrative, demanding an independent investigation and verification of the identity of the remains and the circumstances of death before issuing any final conclusions.
Mohammed Qahtan is considered one of the most prominent leaders of the Yemeni Congregation for Reform (Islah) party, and he participated in the National Dialogue Conference held following the 2011 protests. He was also one of the prominent political figures during the transitional phase in Yemen.
The Houthi group arrested Qahtan from his home in the capital, Sana’a, in April 2015, and since then, local and international demands have continued to reveal his fate and allow his family to visit or communicate with him.
Qahtan’s case was included in the rounds of negotiations regarding the file of prisoners and detainees between the Yemeni government and the Houthis, without reaching an agreement leading to his release or settling his fate.
