On 5 October 2010 the Yemeni Political Security Administrative authorities released cartoonist Kamal Yahya Sharaf, after the National Security services had forcibly disappeared him for over a month. He was imprisoned at Political Security headquarters for 13 days after a State Security judge ruled that he should be released.

Alkarama has been informed that Jamal Al-Badawi's health has gradually been deteriorating during the course of his open hunger strike in the State Security prison in Sanaa. The strike, which began 21 days ago, is in protest of the authorities reneging on their promises to release him.

Abd Al-Hafiz Al-Rahman

Alkarama has received information that the 3rd Military Unit Judge in Aleppo has unjustly sentenced Abd Al-Hafiz Abd Al-Rahman on Wednesday 29 September 2010 to a year's imprisonment under Article 288 of the Syrian Penal Code.

Mr Abd Al-Salam Ashraf was arrested on 28 June 2010 following a summons by the General Intelligence Services in Amman. He was immediately arrested, put in secret detention and tortured.

Alkarama submitted their cases to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, asking them to intervene with the Saudi authorities so that the two men are freed or given legal protection.

Following 11 months of detention without charge or trial in the Qatari police station of Asima in Doha, Mohamed Farouk Al Mahdi was released yesterday, on 14 September 2010.