Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) vehemently denounces the abhorrent act perpetrated against Anwar Mansour Abdo Yahya Al-Zaid, who tragically perished while in the confines of the Police Department's detention facility in Taiz last week.

Per credible information obtained by our organization, Anwar Mansour had journeyed to Taiz to renew his passport. On Tuesday, December 10, 2024, he was forcibly taken by individuals affiliated with the 170th Air Defense Brigade in the Al-Kawthar neighborhood of the Wadi Al-Qadi area.

During this ordeal, he was stripped of his personal effects and subjected to brutal physical violence employing rifle butts at the brigade's premises. Subsequently, he was relocated to the Usaifrah Police Department under the pretense of narcotics possession. Regrettably, Anwar met his untimely demise within the confines of the department's cell under suspicious circumstances that warrant serious scrutiny.

Mahyoub Al-Sharaabi, the Director of the Usaifrah Police Department, asserted that Anwar Mansour was discovered lifeless, hanging by a cloth in his cell on Tuesday evening. Allegedly, Anwar had been handed over to the police following an altercation with members of the Security Battalion of the 170th Air Defense Brigade.

WJWC has examined a coercive arrest warrant released by the Investigation, Security, and Prisons Prosecution in Taiz Governorate on December 13, 2024, mandating the summoning of multiple individuals from the 170th Air Defense Brigade for interrogation regarding Anwar Mansour's abduction and severe assault.

In response to the incident, the Security Media Center in Taiz Governorate issued a statement confirming expedited actions to probe the matter, including the apprehension of the Director, officers, and personnel of the Usaifrah Police Department for interrogation. A forensic team has been assembled to survey the scene and oversee the case under the watch of the Public Prosecution and the Criminal Investigation Department.

WJWC unequivocally condemns the egregious transgressions inflicted upon Anwar Mansour, encompassing abduction, abuse, and torment culminating in his demise while in custody. This episode epitomizes a flagrant violation of the right to life and physical well-being, constituting a stark departure from the legal obligations of the state and security services to safeguard the rights and dignity of citizens.

The organization advocates for the establishment of an unbiased investigative body, inclusive of representatives from the Public Prosecution and independent human rights entities, to unearth the truth and ensure accountability for those responsible. It emphasizes the imperative for stringent legal repercussions against all implicated parties, whether affiliated with the 170th Air Defense Brigade or the Usaifrah Police Department.

Furthermore, WJWC implores the security authorities in Taiz Governorate to promptly implement measures guaranteeing the safety and rights of detainees in alignment with domestic statutes and global benchmarks. It calls for the cessation of arbitrary security practices, encompassing abduction, torture, and physical aggression, and the enforcement of security services' adherence to their legal obligations in safeguarding citizens.

This incident underscores the grave deterioration of human rights in Taiz Governorate. WJWC implores all relevant stakeholders to fulfill their obligations in upholding citizens' rights and ensuring accountability for those complicit in such violations to avert the recurrence of such atrocities.

Released by:

Women Journalists Without Chains

December 16, 2024