Michigan — The American Center for Justice (ACJ) calls upon the International Bar Association (IBA), bar associations worldwide, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and international human rights organizations to take urgent action regarding the continued arbitrary detention of human rights lawyer Abdulmajid Sabrah in Sana’a. His case represents a direct threat to the independence of the legal profession, a grave erosion of the rule of law, and a systematic targeting of human rights defenders in Yemen.
The Center emphasizes that the detention of a lawyer for the peaceful expression of his opinion, coupled with the denial of fundamental due process guarantees, does not constitute an isolated individual violation. Rather, it amounts to a direct assault on the justice system as a whole and reveals an escalating pattern of repression targeting independent legal voices in areas under the control of the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group.
On 25 September 2025, forces affiliated with the Houthi group raided the office of lawyer Abdulmajid Sabrah in the Shumaila area of the capital Sana’a and arrested him in connection with a peaceful social media post commemorating the 26 September Revolution, in clear violation of the right to freedom of opinion and expression as guaranteed under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Since his arrest, Sabrah has remained arbitrarily detained without any legal basis, without being brought before a competent judicial authority, and without being afforded the opportunity to challenge the legality of his detention, constituting a blatant violation of Article 9 of the ICCPR, which prohibits arbitrary detention and guarantees the right to liberty and security of person.
Credible information indicates that Sabrah’s family has been allowed to see him only once since his arrest, while he has been denied regular communication with his family and legal counsel. Authorities have also deliberately concealed information regarding his whereabouts and conditions of detention for extended periods. The Center considers that such practices may amount to enforced disappearance, as defined under the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
The American Center for Justice stresses that the treatment of Sabrah stands in stark contradiction to the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, which obligate authorities to ensure that lawyers are not subjected to arrest, harassment, or prosecution for performing their professional duties or for the legitimate exercise of their civil and political rights.
Who is Abdulmajid Sabrah?
Abdulmajid Sabrah is widely regarded as one of Yemen’s leading human rights lawyers. For years, he has been known for his consistent defense of journalists, activists, bloggers, and human rights defenders who have faced arrest or prosecution for the peaceful exercise of their fundamental rights. His legal work has focused primarily on cases involving freedom of opinion and expression, and he has used his public presence and digital platforms to shed light on serious human rights violations against civilians in areas under Houthi control, making him a direct target for reprisals.
Sabrah’s arrest occurs within a broader context of systematic repression. Local and international human rights organizations have documented a wave of mass arrests targeting dozens of individuals in northern governorates merely for peacefully commemorating the anniversary of 26 September or expressing their views online, as part of an apparent effort to impose a single narrative through coercion and suppress public space.
The American Center for Justice (ACJ) affirms that the continued detention of lawyer Abdulmajid Sabrah constitutes a serious and ongoing violation of international human rights law. The Center demands his immediate and unconditional release, the guarantee of his physical and psychological integrity, and the full and unrestricted enjoyment of all his legal rights, most notably the right to a fair trial before an independent and impartial judiciary, the right to regular communication with his family and legal counsel, and protection from all forms of arbitrary or retaliatory treatment.
The Center further calls for an immediate end to the policy of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance targeting lawyers, journalists, activists, and human rights defenders in areas under the control of the Ansar Allah group. It urges the United Nations and its relevant mechanisms, particularly the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, to take urgent and effective measures in this case, investigate the violations committed, and ensure accountability for those responsible, in accordance with international legal obligations and the principles of combating impunity.
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