(CIHRS/IFEX) – The following is a 15 October 2006 joint statement by 30 human rights organisations, including CIHRS and EOHR: Cairo, 15 October 2006 Yemeni Authorities: Stop Arbitrary Practices Against Human Rights Defendants and Immediately Release Ali Al-Demely Statement from 30 NGOs in 11 Arab Countries The undersigned organizations expressed their great discontent about the […]
(CIHRS/IFEX) – The following is a 15 October 2006 joint statement by 30 human rights organisations, including CIHRS and EOHR:
Cairo, 15 October 2006
Yemeni Authorities: Stop Arbitrary Practices Against Human Rights Defendants and Immediately Release Ali Al-Demely
Statement from 30 NGOs in 11 Arab Countries
The undersigned organizations expressed their great discontent about the arrest and detention of Mr. Ali Al-Demely by the Yemeni Authorities, on Monday 9 October 2006, while he was heading to Copenhagen, Denmark to participate in an event on rights and freedoms. Mr. Al-Demely is a Yemeni human rights defender. He is the executive director of the Yemeni Organization for Defense for Rights and Democratic Freedoms.
It is worth noting that the arrest of Al-Demely took place at a time when Yemen was overwhelmed by the promises made by the President Ali Abdullah Saleh, during a session of parliament, after winning the recent elections, wherein he emphasized that he would entrench democracy, enhance freedoms and promote respect for human rights. This arrest reveals the lack of credibility of such election-time commitments.
The undersigned organizations, condemning the arrest and detention of Mr. Al-Demely by the Yemeni authorities, demand that authorities immediately release Mr. Ale-Demely and ensure his freedom of movement, as specified in the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). These organisations also call for authorities to abide by the international human rights instruments and covenants ratified by the Yemeni government and the UN declaration on human rights defenders adopted in 1998. The organizations also demand compensation for Mr. Al-Demely, against the moral and physical harm he has been subjected to, as a result of the arbitrary coercive measures taken by the Yemeni authorities against him.
The undersigned organizations:
– Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
– Habi Center for Environmental Rights (Egypt)
– Syrian Organization for Human Rights
– The Arab Organization for Penal Reform (Egypt)
– Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies
– Association for Democracy Development (Egypt)
– The Committee for the Respect of Freedoms and the Humans Right in Tunisia
– Egyptian Association for Supporting Democratic Development
– Khartoum Center for Human Rights and Environment Development
– Amel Center for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture
– Al-Haq – Ramallah, Palestine
– Land Center for Human Rights (Egypt)
– Bahrain Center for Human Rights
– Amman Center for Human Rights Studies
– Egyptian Organization for Human Rights
– The Egyptian Association for Community Participation Enhancement
– Human Rights Association for the Assistance of Prisoners (Egypt)
– The Association for the Defense of Right and Liberties “ADDL” (Lebanon)
– Center for Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance
– Al-Nadim Centre for Psychological Therapy and Rehabilitation of the Victims of Violence (Egypt)
– Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections
– The Association For Human Rights Legal Aid (Egypt)
– Iraqi Social Education Team
– The Yemeni Organization for the Defense of Human Rights and Democratic Freedoms
– Babylon Organization For Human Rights
– Bahraini Youth Society For Human Rights
– Palestinian Center For Human Rights
– The Libyan League For Human Rights
– The Tunisian Association For Democratic Women
– The Egyptian Association Against Torture