Geneva - SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties reported that individuals affiliated with a leader commanding a military faction under the Southern Transitional Council raided the homes of citizens in the Bir Ahmed area of Aden on June 17th with military forces and arrested civilians after they resisted the attempted abduction of a 16-year-old girl by young men close to military leaders, in an incident that represents a flagrant violation of human dignity and basic human rights.

SAM stated that the girl, Najat Tariq Awad, was subjected to an attempted abduction from her home around 4 AM on Monday, June 17, 2024, by three young men close to military leaders, leading to clashes between the perpetrators and the girl's family, resulting in the death of a person from the first party. This prompted security forces, incited by one of the leaders, to launch a campaign of raids and arrests targeting the locals, including the victim herself.

SAM said: "This incident represents a serious violation of human rights and Yemeni law, and reveals the extent of negligence and chaos within some security apparatuses. The use of military influence to achieve personal gains or infringe on the rights of citizens is an unacceptable overreach and requires strict legal measures to hold the perpetrators accountable," calling on the relevant authorities to conduct an immediate and transparent investigation into this incident and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. We also call for protecting the rights of women and girls and strengthening the rule of law in all regions.

According to the girl's mother's statement to Sam, the perpetrators came to their house in the early morning in a black Hyundai Elantra with "Almashoushi" written on the back. They abducted the girl from the door while she was wearing prayer clothes.

She added: My husband and I rushed after the car driven by the culprit and tried to intercept its path, but he tried to run us over. I saw the culprit throwing my daughter out of the car door, so I took her inside the house in a bad psychological state. We dressed our daughter in an abaya to take her to the hospital, and as we were leaving our house, another car (a white Prado) with three young men inside, Abdul-Aleem, Nabil, and Nasser Mutei, approached us. Nasser Mutei addressed us saying, "What I did to the girl is merely a small act, compared to what I am planning to do", according to her expression.

She added: My nephew punched Nasser in response to his provocative words, which led the other two men to get out of the car to attack him. I tried to hold my nephew back, but they came and beat both him and me. Another person named Saleh Mati joined them in the assault. The altercation ended, and they left. I went to the hospital, and later received a call about a clash near my sister's house (Sheikh Mahdi Al-Aqrabi's house) with individuals affiliated with the leader Nabil Al-Mashoushi. During the clash, a young man named Abdul-Aleem was killed. Afterwards, they brought reinforcements and assaulted our homes, arresting the men inside, including my brother who is being tortured in prison and treated badly.

She pointed out that the armed men stormed her brother's house, removed the surveillance cameras that recorded everything, and looted belongings from his house including mobile phones, money, and valuable items.

The victim's mother indicated that the detainees were initially placed in the prison of Commander Nabil Al-Mashoushi, where they were beaten and tortured. She added that they put her nephew in a Narrow cell, then transferred him along with others to Al-Jalaa Prison in Al-Buraiqa, and then, specifically on Friday, transferred them to Al-Sha'b Police Station, with half of them, including her second brother, moved to Khor Maksar Prison. 

She mentioned that when she reported to the police, they treated her and her daughter poorly, acting as if they were the accused, and eventually took the girl to prison.

Yemeni law criminalizes abduction, or attempted abduction, and punishes the perpetrator and anyone who committed the crime or assisted the perpetrator. Therefore, security authorities must respect human dignity and the sanctity of the home; it cannot be raided except in cases of absolute necessity and in accordance with the procedures and supervision of the judiciary.

SAM strongly condemns the incident that the girl and her family were subjected to, which represents a flagrant violation of human dignity and legally guaranteed rights. The organization also condemns the assaults on family members and the torture of detainees in prisons.

SAM calls on the relevant authorities to conduct an immediate and transparent investigation into this incident and hold those responsible accountable according to the law. The organization also urges to ensure the safety of the detainees and either release them or grant them their right to a fair trial, and ensure that they are not subjected to torture or cruel or inhumane treatment.