The two men were among 29 activists arrested by members of the Houthi-Saleh Coalition on 12 October 2015 during their preparations for a 65km march to Taiz. They had foreseen carrying out the march accompanied by trucks transporting drinking water to the citizens of Taiz, suffering from shortages caused by several months of siege. Of the 29 activists detained, 23 were released shortly after their arrest. Walid Ali Omar Al Kathiri, lawyer and legal activist, and Abdullah Karash, Executive Director of a rights group, believed to be the main organisers of the march and were kept incommunicado at the Political Security Prison.

The released detainees have reported that all activists were subjected to ill-treatment and acts of torture in detention, such as being detained in overcrowded cells, subjected to electrical shocks and deprived of food and hygiene items.

"We welcome these releases and hope that more will come. However, we are still extremely concerned about the continuous practice of abductions, torture and ill-treatment in detention centres committed against activists and all dissident voices," said Radidja Nemar, Regional Legal Officer for the Gulf at Alkarama. "In order to conform itself to humanitarian and human rights law, the Houthi-Saleh forces should release those detained and stop the practice of arbitrary arrests and abduction. They should also investigate and punish those responsible for abductions and acts of torture to ensure the non-repetition of these severe violations."

Given these facts, Alkarama urges the Houthi-Saleh Coalition to release the remaining activist and make sure all detainees are treated humanely in conformity with human rights law and international humanitarian law.

In this regard, the Houthi-Saleh Coalition should ensure that:

• No arbitrary arrests and detentions are carried out, including of journalists and other peaceful activists exercising their rights;
• Detainees are provided with fundamental rights, including the right to effectively challenge their detention, to contact their families and receive visits;
• Detainees under their control are treated humanely, and no act of torture and/or ill-treatment is committed against them.

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