Yemen: Ammar Attayiar's tortured in Ta'izz, held despite release orders

On 11 January 2010 plainclothes Yemeni security agents in Ta'izz arrested Ammar Attayiar and held him at their premises, before transferring him to the criminal investigation's detention center, where he was held incommunicado and severely tortured. He was intended to be released on bail on 4 April 2010, however he has been kept in prison in despite a court decision for his release. Current fears are that the confessions extracted under torture could be used as evidence during his upcoming trial in order to justify a heavy sentence.

Alkarama submitted his case to the Special Rapporteur on Torture requesting his intervention with the Yemeni authorities in order to carry out a full and impartial investigation into the allegations of torture suffered by Ammar Attayiar, as well as a request to refrain from using confessions extracted under torture during his upcoming trial.

Ammar Hamid Moqbil Mahyoub Attayiar, 23, is a technician a Sana'a International Airport. Was held at the security services premises from 11 to 16 January 2010, before being transferred to the Ta'izz criminal investigative services, where he was held incommunicado.

On 27 January 2010, he was taken to Bir Basha police station and detained another six days before finally being transferred to Ta'izz Central Prison on 3 February 2010, where he remains unto this day.

Between 16 and 27 January 2010, while in custody of the criminal investigative services, Ammar Attayiar was severely tortured by three officers who questioned him in order to extract false confessions regarding his supposed criminal activities. During the torture sessions he was electrocuted, which caused several second degree burns on his hands and the backs of his feet.

Ammar Attayiar was also severely tortured at Bir Basha police station, where he was kept blindfolded and badly beaten during six days.

Ammar Attayiar received a medical examination following the insistence of his lawyer and his family was able to visit him at Ta'izz Central Prison. The medical report found various burns and multiple bruises on different parts of his body. A complaint has been filed with the Sana'a's Attorney General.

As part of the complaint filed against the officers responsible for torturing Ammar Attayiar, they were summoned by the prosecution at the beginning of May 2010, however an annulment of the meeting's established minutes was requested bys his lawyer.

The prosecution did not summon the witnesses cited in Ammar Attayiar's complaint due to the fact that they were already released from custody, and as such the procedure has yet to be carried out.