Louay M. Abdulwahab Ali Al-Mouayyad was born on 1 January 1984 in Sana'a where he resides. He is a journalist, Executive Director of the information portal 'Free Yemen' and a committed advocate for the promotion of human rights in his country where he campaigns within the Arab Organization of Human Rights and the Yemeni Organization for Rights and Democratic Freedoms.

On 30 June 2008, officers of the Political Security Services (Al Amn Assiyassi) dressed in civilian clothes and accompanied by several uniformed military personnel, went to Mr Al-Mouayyad’s home. Not finding him, they first arrested his older brother Nizar, blindfolded him and threw him in a vehicle before realizing their mistake.

They returned a few moments later to the family home and arrested Louay. The officers had no arrest warrant and presented him with no reason for his arrest nor any explanation to his family, merely responding curtly to his mother that he had been summoned for an interrogation which should not exceed two hours and he would be released immediately afterwards.

Mr Al-Mouayyad was taken to an unknown destination. His family received a telephone call that evening, from a service presenting themselves as the police, asking them to prepare Louay’s laptop and his usual medical treatment for collection.

During the phone call, the caller promised that the victim would be released within two days and he was even allowed to talk to his family, for the one and only time.

Since then, his family has been without news of him despite their multiple attempts; they are particularly concerned because the medication given to the security services covered only a week of treatment.

His family has taken steps with all of Sanaa’s security services (Political Police, National Security, the Ministry of Interior’s anti-terrorist cell, the Central Security’s anti-terrorist section, and the Directorate of Criminal Research) to try to get news of him, but in vain.

They have also contacted Sanaa’s General Prosecutor who has officially requested security officials, the Minister of Interior and the head of the political security services to present him to the prosecution if charges are to be brought against him, or otherwise, release him.

The Attorney General also asked the Head of the political Police’s Central Organ to provide appropriate emergency medical assistance. However, he received no response from either of these two authorities.

The indifference of the security services has prompted several local human rights defence organizations to mount a campaign to warn authorities of the danger to the Mr Al-Mouayyad’s life and health in the absence of appropriate medical monitoring.

His mother finally addressed the Head of State, by means of an open letter published in various newspapers, but without any further success.

There is no doubt therefore that Mr Al-Mouayyad’s present detention can only be interpreted as arbitrary detention, contrary to both legal norms in force in the country, and the standards set forth in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Covenant ratified by the defendant State.

Yemen ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on 9 February 1987 and the Convention against Torture on 5 October 1991.