SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties said that the arrest of Captain Mohammed Abbas Al-Mutawakkil by security authorities at Aden International Airport, without any clear justification or legal explanation, constitutes a violation of the right to liberty and personal security guaranteed by the Yemeni Constitution and international covenants. The organization affirmed that any deprivation of liberty must be based on a legitimate reason and carried out through transparent judicial procedures.

SAM explained that, to date, the security authorities have not provided any convincing legal justification or official judicial order authorizing the arrest, rendering the measure arbitrary and unlawful. It added that serious allegations—such as claims of diverting certain flight routes—must not be handled outside the judicial framework but rather through an official, transparent investigation subject to judicial oversight and ensuring the right to defense.

The organization stressed that the legitimate government is legally and morally obligated to clarify the legal grounds for Captain Al-Mutawakkil’s detention, and to make public the information related to the arrest decision—or to immediately release him if no specific charges or evidence exist.

SAM further stated that ambiguity in legal procedures and the lack of transparency undermine public trust in state institutions and constitute a violation of Article (9) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which requires that any person be informed promptly of the reasons for their arrest and of any charges against them.

The organization concluded its statement by calling for respect for the rule of law and for guaranteeing citizens’ right to protection from arbitrary detention, emphasizing that justice begins with the clarity of the law, not the obscurity of authority.