SAM Condemns Continued Detention and Solitary Confinement of Lawyer Abdulmajid Sabra

Geneva – The SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties expressed deep concern over the ongoing detention of lawyer Abdulmajid Sabra, head of the Defense Committee for Detainees, by the Houthi group in Sana’a. Sabra has reportedly been held in solitary confinement since September 25, 2025, a measure the organization described as a blatant violation of international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and the Yemeni Constitution, which guarantees the dignity, freedom, and security of every individual.

SAM stated that Sabra’s arrest came in retaliation for his human rights advocacy and his defense of victims of injustice, emphasizing that he is one of Yemen’s most prominent lawyers devoted to justice and accountability. The organization stressed that such targeting represents an act of reprisal against his professional and humanitarian efforts to uphold the rule of law.

According to a Facebook post by Sabra’s brother, the family received a phone call from Abdulmajid confirming that he has been held in solitary confinement since his arrest. SAM noted that this detail reflects a premeditated intent to punish him for his professional and human rights work, while depriving him of his basic legal and humanitarian rights.

The organization further stated that Sabra’s placement in solitary confinement violates Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 1 of the Convention against Torture. SAM underscored that prolonged or coercive solitary confinement constitutes a form of torture or cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment prohibited under international law. The organization also cited the Nelson Mandela Rules, which restrict the use of solitary confinement to exceptional cases and under strict judicial oversight.

SAM affirmed that this arbitrary detention represents a direct assault on the legal profession, the right to defense, and freedom of expression, reflecting a systematic repressive policy against independent human rights voices in areas under Houthi control. The organization described the case as a clear violation of international instruments protecting human rights defenders, particularly the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (1998).

The organization held the Houthi group fully responsible for the safety and well-being of Abdulmajid Sabra, calling for his immediate and unconditional release. It also urged that he be allowed to communicate with his family and lawyer, and to receive proper medical care without restrictions or harassment.

SAM called on the Yemeni Bar Association, the International Bar Association, and international organizations concerned with freedom of opinion and expression to take urgent action to condemn this unlawful detention and pressure the Houthi group to release him immediately.

The organization also urged the United Nations and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to include this incident in their periodic reports on violations committed against human rights defenders in Yemen, describing it as a disturbing example of the deteriorating state of rights and freedoms in the country.