Alkarama sent two urgent communications on 20 and 27 August 2010 to the Special Rapporteur on Torture and the Special Rapporteur for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights, requesting their intervention with the Yemeni authorities on behalf of Abd al-Ilah Haidar Shaie (journalist) Kamal Yahya Sharaf (a cartoonist), who were kidnapped by the National Security forces.

Human rights activists, civil rights organisations, Yemeni media in Yemen have formed an alliance, called the 6 Ramadan Alliance, including an Alkarama representative in Al-Bayda, to put pressure on the Yemeni authorities to release Shaie and Sharaf, who were arbitrarily detained on 16 August 2010 by the security forces of the National Security services. The security forces searched their homes, frightened their children and wives, and confiscated their personal belongings including computers and mobile phones, before taking them to the National Security office. The authorities continue to deny them visitation rights, adding to fears that they have been being tortured.

Yesterday, on 2 September 2010, tens of lawyers, journalists and human rights activists headed towards the President Salah's residence in Sanaa to carry out a protest and to deliver the President a letter protesting against the security forces' refusal to release Shaie and Sharaf.

However, the security forces prevented the demonstrators from reaching the Salah's home, prompting them to continue their protests in front of Manassat al-Sab`in, where they delivered the letter over to a presidential representative.

Furthermore, the activists were put under pressure by members of the special guard patrolling the president's home. They threatened to open fire on demonstrators and preventing Aljazeera and Al-Hurra cameramen from filming. The guards also took a number of activists to a nearby police station where they were briefly detained before receiving orders to take them back to Manassat Al-Sab`in.

Meanwhile, the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists, demanded that the Yemeni government release the two men, noting that they had been detained without charge, and accused Yemen of breaking its prior agreements to let the journalists work freely.

Demands for their release by the International Federation of Journalists, which represents more than 600,000 journalists in 125 countries worldwide, came in the wake of increasing fears that both Shaie and Sharaf are being tortured by the National Security services.

The President of the International Federation of Journalists, Jim Boumelha, held the Yemeni authorities responsible for the safety of the imprisoned journalists, and demanded their release. He noted that the arrests indicate that Yemeni authorities have backtracked on their commitments to journalistic freedoms by allowing journalists to work without intimidation or interference.

The Yemeni Journalists' Union condemned the continued Shaie and Sharaf, and said in a press release yesterday that they have been following with great concern their continued detention since three weeks ago without legal justification, noting that since the first day of their detention they quickly tried to communicate with the responsible authorities to learn the reasons for their arrest, and, in vain, asked the National Security Apparatus leadership to specify a time to meet with them.

The union also condemned the State security forces for their irresponsible actions in violation of the Yemen's constitution. The union holds it responsible for the journalists' safety and for whatever violations or harm they may undergo. Furthermore, the union requested that the Attorney General assume responsibility for releasing them, since their detention is in clear violation of the constitution.