Urgent Call for Release of Human Rights Lawyer Abdulmajeed Sabra and Others Detained in Yemen
Human rights organizations are deeply concerned by the recent arrest of yemeni lawyer Abdulmajeed Sabra, and a wider crackdown on individuals commemorating the September 26th anniversary. Sabra’s detention, along with numerous others in northern governorates, appears linked to peaceful celebrations or social media posts related to the anniversary.
Sabra is a prominent legal advocate known for his dedicated defense of individuals detained for exercising their human rights in Yemen. He utilizes his Facebook page to share his views, advocate for Yemeni human rights, and provide updates on his cases.
The arrests are occurring amidst a disturbing pattern of detentions and, in some cases, enforced disappearance – a practice where individuals are held in custody by government officials or their agents, with authorities refusing to acknowledge the detention or provide information about the person’s fate or whereabouts. This practice considerably increases the risk of torture or death for those detained, and inflicts severe emotional distress on their families.
Credible sources report that the Houthis have arrested a important number of people in connection with the September 26th anniversary. Moreover, dozens of UN and civil society staff remain in arbitrary detention, including cases of enforced disappearance dating back to 2024 and 2025.
The undersigned organizations urge the Houthis in Yemen to:
* Promptly and unconditionally release abdulmajeed Sabra and all others detained solely for peacefully exercising their human rights, including freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.
* Immediately and unconditionally release all individuals currently held in arbitrary detention, including those UN and civil society staff who have been arrested and forcibly disappeared.
* Respect and uphold the human rights of all individuals, including the rights to freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly, and media freedom.
* Ensure human rights defenders, journalists, bloggers, academics, and internet activists can carry out their work and express themselves freely without fear of reprisal or judicial harassment.
Signatories:
* Amnesty International
* Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
* CIVICUS
* Democracy for the Arabi World Now (DAWN)
* Front Line defenders
* Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR)
* Human Rights First (HRF)
* HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement
* IFEX
* International Bar association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI)
* International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) within the framework of the Observatory for the protection of Human Rights Defenders
* International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
* MENA Rights Group
* Mwatana for Human Rights
* World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
* Yemeni Archive
