Yemen: Carry out a Thorough, Impartial and Immediate Investigation into the Attack on Radhwan Al-Haimi

On 2 October 2013, human rights defender Mr Radhwan Al-Haimi was attacked in Sanaa by individuals who told him they were Yemeni National Security officers.

Human Rights Ambassador William Nicholas Gomes

(SANAA) - Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi
President of the Republic of Yemen,
Office of the President,
Zubairy Street,
Sana'a,
Yemen.

Your Excellency,

I am William Nicholas Gomes, Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com.

On 2 October 2013, human rights defender Mr Radhwan Al Haimi was attacked in Sanaa by individuals who told him they were Yemeni National Security officers. Radhwan Al Haimi is Director of Nidal Al Taghyeer (Struggle of Change), an organisation working to protect human rights and freedoms, and a member of the Yemen Organisation for Defending Rights and Democratic Freedoms.

On 2 October 2013, while driving on Shoub Street in Sanaa accompanied by his sister, Radhwan Al Haimi's private car was surrounded by a number of white Land Cruisers with reflective windows, known to belong to National Security agencies in Yemen. The Land Cruisers started colliding Radhwan Al Haimi's car from several directions, which risked serious injury to both Radhwan Al Haimi and his sister, and inflicted damage to the car. Radhwan Al Haimi was forced to stop his car before being held at gunpoint and questioned by men who told him they were Yemeni National Security officers. This ordeal induced Radhwan Al Haimi's sister to suffer a severe panic attack.

This act of intimidation directed towards Radhwan Al Haimi is not an isolated incident, but comes as part of a series of suppressive measures against him. Radhwan Al Haimi was detained for several hours in Sanaa airport on 5 June 2013 in transit from Aden, and he was reportedly attacked by First Armored Division soldiers in Sanaa in August 2012.

I would like to express my serious concern at the recent attack and the repeated acts of intimidation targeting Radhwan Al Haimi, including physical aggression of the human rights defender and his family.

I urge the authorities in Yemen to:

1. Carry out a thorough, impartial and immediate investigation into the attack on human rights defender Radhwan Al Haimi, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;

2. Take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and physical and psychological integrity of Radhwan Al Haimi and the members of his family;

3. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Yemen are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions, including physical acts of intimidation.

Yours Sincerely, William Nicholas Gomes
Human Rights Activist and Freelance Journalist www.williamnicholasgomes.com Twitter: @Wnicholasgomes