In an interview with Yemenat, writer and political activist Fawzi Al-Ariqi spoke about the pain of the families and the silence of the international community: The reality of enforced disappearances in Yemen is bitter and unbearable (2-2)
Interview: Mohammed Al-Suhbani
“Forced disappearances are frequent in Taiz and Ibb, in northern Yemen. In the south, Aden, Lahj, and Abyan are among the most affected governorates.”
“Numerous cases of forced disappearances were reported at a nursing home in Hodeidah, but this information later proved to be false.”
“Political and military movements, particularly in the border areas between the two Yemens, have led to a flow of information and people between the two regions, making security in these areas extremely precarious.”
In the second and final part of this interview, Fawzi Al-Ariqi, a renowned professor, left-wing activist, writer, and political activist, and secretary of the Department of Rights and Freedoms of the Yemeni Socialist Party in the Taiz governorate, addresses the highly sensitive and crucial issue of forced disappearances in Yemen – a problem that affects many Yemeni families and profoundly impacts the social and psychological fabric of society.
Forced disappearances are a widespread phenomenon in Taiz and Ibb, in northern Yemen. In the south, Aden, Lahj, and Abyan are among the governorates with the highest rates of forced disappearances. This report highlights one of the most urgent human rights violations in Yemen, particularly the impact of this phenomenon on women, and reveals alarming figures concerning the abduction and forced disappearance of Yemeni women since the beginning of the conflict.
According to statistics published by human rights organizations, approximately 1,700 women have been victims of forced disappearance, including women’s rights activists, journalists, and media professionals. This finding raises serious questions about the humanitarian and legal dimensions of these violations.
Al-Ariqi emphasized the difficulties faced by these families in finding their missing loved ones and questioned the concrete assistance provided to them by the state. He also examined the role of civil society organizations in addressing this crisis and their efforts to document cases and provide legal and financial assistance to affected families.
Despite these efforts, questions of justice remain, particularly due to the absence of independent national mechanisms for investigation and accountability. It is therefore incumbent upon the international community to exert pressure on the various parties to ensure that justice is served for the victims.
Al-Ariqi emphasized the profound psychological and social impact of enforced disappearances on families, especially women and children who lose their breadwinners and whose social lives are disrupted. This phenomenon extends beyond the individual and affects society as a whole. Families of those forcibly disappeared become vulnerable to marginalization and isolation, and their members face potentially devastating psychological and social difficulties.
In concluding the interview, Al-Ariqi discussed potential international efforts to address this problem, particularly given the lack of ratification of international conventions relating to the protection of persons against enforced disappearances. He mentioned organizations such as Amnesty International, which strives to shed light on these violations, despite their limited impact on the ground.
Now, let’s move on to the second part:
Regarding the context of enforced disappearances, and more specifically those of women, do you think that the issue of enforced disappearances in Yemen is entirely devoid of any female involvement?
No, unfortunately, that is a reality we cannot ignore.
Last May, the Yemeni government called on the international community to pressure the Houthi group to secure the release of approximately 1,700 women who have been abducted and subjected to enforced disappearance. According to statistics compiled by human rights organizations, the number of women abducted and detained in Houthi militia prisons since the coup d’état amounts to approximately 1,700, including human rights activists, media professionals, journalists, and other activists.
The same report documents the abduction of 504 women and their transfer to Sana’a Central Prison, as well as that of 204 minors, 283 cases of enforced disappearance to secret prisons, and 193 illegal convictions for espionage, treason, pimping, and participation in a “soft war.”
How can Yemeni families obtain assistance in finding their missing relatives?
You are certainly referring to general assistance, and more specifically legal assistance, for the families of those who have disappeared.