Yemen: A call to save the life of the Yemeni soldiers held by Ansar al Sharia

25 Apr 2012

The Ansar Al Sharia group ("Followers of Islamic Law") in Yemen informed the human rights NGOs Alkarama and HOOD that the group plans in the coming days to execute a number of the Yemeni army soldiers who are held by the group since battles on the outskirts of Zinjibar in Abyan province in the south of the country in early March.

HOOD and Alkarama sent a delegation of lawyers to the city of Jaar, in Abyan province, which is currently ruled by Ansar al Sharia and was renamed the Emirate of Waqar on Thursday 22 March 2012. The visit allowed the team of lawyers to interview the 73 soldiers held by the group, and observe their health and detention conditions. The team found that they seemed to be treated well and were allowed to communicate with their families, but the Ansar Al Sharia continues to call for the release of members of the group detained in the prisons of the Yemeni Political Security forces in exchange for the release of the captured soldiers.

Despite the soldiers having been detained for nearly two months by Ansar Al Sharia and an increasing number of captured soldiers following the recent fighting, the Yemeni government has until present done nothing to ensure their release. It however appears that the lives of these soldiers are at great risk, whether from the possibility of being subjected to bombardment by US aviation or executed by their captors.

HOOD and Alkarama appeal to the Ansar Al Sharia to protect the lives of the captured soldiers, and to halt any executions outside of the law. They appeal also to the Yemeni government, the scholars of Yemen, the alliance of the tribes of Yemen, human rights organizations, civil society and anyone who has the ability to influence this situation, to work quickly to save the life of the captured soldiers in the province of Abyan and take urgent action for their release.

Yemen