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Tag: Yemen

  • American Center for Justice Condemns Houthi Reneging on Prisoner-Exchange Agreement and Warns of Undermining Peace Efforts

    American Center for Justice Condemns Houthi Reneging on Prisoner-Exchange Agreement and Warns of Undermining Peace Efforts

    The American Center for Justice (ACJ) strongly condemned the Houthi group’s withdrawal from its commitments under the Amman understandings concerning the exchange of prisoners and abductees. The Center described the move as a violation of de-escalation efforts and a deliberate exploitation of humanitarian issues to achieve political gains at the expense of the suffering of civilians and arbitrarily detained persons.

    In a statement, the Center said it had received urgent appeals for assistance from the families of abductees, indicating that the group was seeking to derail the United Nations-sponsored agreement. It noted that reneging on these commitments prolongs periods of detention, exposes detainees to physical and psychological violations in detention facilities that fail to meet even minimum humanitarian standards, and compounds the uncertainty and anxiety experienced by their families.

    The statement stressed that the detention of civilians and the use of their cases as bargaining tools violate fundamental principles of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and deprive individuals of their right to liberty and security of person, as guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international human rights instruments. It further emphasized that using this issue as a tool of political pressure constitutes a form of extortion prohibited under international law, while the continued practice of enforced disappearance and torture constitutes serious violations requiring those responsible to be held criminally accountable.

    The Center warned of the serious repercussions of this reversal on peacebuilding efforts in Yemen, stating that it undermines the credibility of United Nations mediation efforts and allows the Houthi group to continue disregarding international conventions and obligations. It added that exploiting the suffering of prisoners deepens social wounds, prolongs the conflict, and leaves victims’ families vulnerable to ongoing psychological and financial exploitation.

    The American Center for Justice (ACJ) called on the international community and the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen to take concrete action and exert meaningful pressure to compel the group to fulfill its commitments under the Amman understandings without preconditions. It also called on international bodies to intensify their monitoring and documentation of violations committed against abductees and to pursue available legal avenues to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable and do not enjoy impunity.

    Full Statement

    Statement on the Houthi Group’s Delays in Implementing the Amman Agreement on the Exchange of Prisoners and Abductees

    The American Center for Justice (ACJ) strongly condemns the Houthi group’s withdrawal from its commitments under the understandings reached in Amman, the capital of Jordan, concerning the exchange of prisoners and abductees.

    This reversal constitutes a flagrant violation of de-escalation efforts and reveals the deliberate exploitation and instrumentalization of humanitarian issues to achieve political gains at the expense of the suffering of civilians and arbitrarily detained persons.

    The Center has received urgent appeals for assistance from the families of abductees indicating that the Houthi group is obstructing the implementation of the United Nations-sponsored agreement, under which the parties committed to ending the suffering of thousands of detainees and facilitating their return to their families. This repudiation prolongs periods of detention, exposes detainees to further physical and psychological violations in detention facilities that fail to meet even minimum humanitarian standards, and compounds the suffering of families living in a state of constant uncertainty and anxiety regarding the fate of their loved ones.

    The detention of civilians and the use of their cases as bargaining tools violate fundamental principles of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. These practices deprive individuals of their right to liberty and security of person, as guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

    The use of the issue of abductees as a tool of political pressure constitutes a form of extortion prohibited under international law. The continued practice of enforced disappearance and torture also constitutes serious violations requiring criminal accountability for those responsible.

    Reneging on humanitarian agreements has serious repercussions for peacebuilding efforts in Yemen. It undermines the credibility of United Nations mediation efforts, while the absence of decisive international action allows the Houthi group to continue disregarding international conventions and obligations and places the international system before a moral and legal responsibility to protect civilians.

    The exploitation of the suffering of prisoners deepens social wounds, prolongs the conflict, and leaves victims’ families vulnerable to ongoing psychological and financial exploitation.

    The Center urgently calls on the international community and the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen to take concrete action and exert meaningful pressure to compel the Houthi group to fulfill its commitments under the Amman understandings without preconditions.

    The Center further emphasizes the need for international bodies to intensify their monitoring and documentation of violations committed against abductees and to pursue available legal avenues to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable and do not enjoy impunity.

    The Center calls for the humanitarian issue concerning prisoners and abductees to be separated from all political bargaining and for coordinated action to end, without delay, the suffering of all detainees and their families, in accordance with the principles of justice and equity.

    Issued by the American Center for Justice (ACJ)
    3 August 2026

  • American Center for Justice: Denial of Vaccines in Yemen Endangers 600,000 Children and May Constitute a War Crime

    American Center for Justice: Denial of Vaccines in Yemen Endangers 600,000 Children and May Constitute a War Crime

    The American Center for Justice (ACJ) condemned policies that deprive hundreds of thousands of children in Yemen of healthcare and immunization, rejecting the use of vaccines and medical supplies as instruments of political pressure or collective punishment in the context of the armed conflict.

    The Center stated that Yemen’s health crisis is worsening as a result of decisions that prevent comprehensive door-to-door vaccination campaigns, particularly in densely populated governorates under the control of the Houthi group. According to the Center, these policies, together with disinformation campaigns targeting vaccines, have left approximately 600,000 children without immunization. This figure represents 35 percent of all children who have not received vaccinations across the Middle East and North Africa region, while vaccination coverage for polio, measles, and diphtheria has fallen below 50 percent.

    The statement noted that more than 80 percent of children infected with measles had not received a single vaccine dose, while Yemen reportedly loses more than 100 children every day to preventable diseases. The Center warned that the situation could amount to a long-term process of destruction.

    The Center stated that this deprivation is incompatible with international humanitarian law and international criminal law. It cited Article 54 of Additional Protocol I and Article 14 of Additional Protocol II, which prohibit the starvation of civilians and the deprivation of objects indispensable to their survival. The Center also referred to the obligations set out in Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

    The Center stressed that the deliberate obstruction of access to medical supplies may constitute a war crime and may give rise to individual criminal responsibility under Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. It further stated that such conduct may amount to crimes against humanity where it is intended to subject populations to living conditions calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the population.

    The statement also highlighted the economic and demographic consequences of the crisis. The resurgence of epidemics such as polio may result in permanent disabilities that exclude thousands of people from the future workforce, push families into poverty, and force them to liquidate productive assets to meet emergency medical costs. According to the Center, these consequences erode human capital and divert limited resources toward emergency responses to human-made crises.

    The American Center for Justice called on the international community and United Nations agencies to intervene urgently to end the medical blockade, insulate the health sector from political and military considerations, and ensure that vaccination teams can operate without restrictions. The Center also called on international commissions of inquiry and the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to document these alleged violations and develop legal case files identifying the potential individual criminal responsibility of leaders implicated in restricting vaccination efforts. It further urged states exercising universal jurisdiction to initiate legal proceedings against those responsible for depriving civilians of healthcare and to ensure that they do not evade accountability.

    Statement on the Deprivation of Children of Vaccines and the Spread of Epidemics in Yemen

    The American Center for Justice (ACJ) unequivocally condemns the systematic policies that deprive hundreds of thousands of children in Yemen of their fundamental right to healthcare and immunization. The Center also rejects the use of vaccines and health supplies as instruments of political pressure or collective punishment in the context of the armed conflict.

    Yemen’s health crisis is worsening as a result of deliberate decisions that prevent comprehensive door-to-door vaccination campaigns, particularly in densely populated governorates under the control of the Houthi group.

    The number of children deprived of immunization is approaching 600,000, equivalent to 35 percent of all children who have not received vaccines across the Middle East and North Africa region. These restrictive policies are accompanied by organized disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining confidence in vaccines and have contributed to vaccination coverage for polio, measles, and diphtheria falling below 50 percent.

    Available statistics indicate that more than 80 percent of children infected with measles had not received a single vaccine dose. Yemen reportedly loses more than 100 children every day to preventable diseases, making the situation akin to a long-term process of destruction.

    The Center maintains that this deliberate deprivation constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law and international criminal law. Article 54 of Additional Protocol I and Article 14 of Additional Protocol II prohibit the starvation of civilians and the deprivation of objects indispensable to their survival.

    The Center further maintains that the deliberate obstruction of medical supplies from reaching civilians constitutes a war crime giving rise to individual criminal responsibility under Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. It adds that such conduct may amount to crimes against humanity where populations are subjected to harsh living conditions intended to bring about the destruction of part of the population.

    This denial violates the core obligations set out in Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which require all parties to protect children from disease and provide comprehensive immunization programmes.

    The impact of these policies extends beyond a public health setback. It undermines the foundations of the local economy and affects the demographic structure of Yemeni society, both now and in the future. The resurgence of deadly epidemics such as polio may result in permanent disabilities that exclude thousands of people from future economic participation, increase poverty and dependency, and force families to liquidate productive assets to meet emergency medical costs.

    These pressures deepen poverty, divert resources away from development projects and the improvement of essential services, erode human capital, which is the principal driver of societal recovery, and trap scarce financial resources in emergency responses to human-made crises.

    The American Center for Justice (ACJ) calls on the international community and United Nations agencies to intervene immediately to end the medical blockade imposed on children in Yemen. The Center emphasizes the need to insulate health-related issues from political and military considerations and to guarantee unhindered access for vaccination teams to reach all households without restriction.

    The Center calls on international commissions of inquiry and independent United Nations mechanisms to document these alleged violations and develop comprehensive legal case files identifying the potential individual criminal responsibility of leaders who issue decisions restricting vaccination campaigns or incite opposition to vaccines. The Center also urges the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to receive communications concerning these alleged crimes.

    The Center appeals to states that apply the principle of universal jurisdiction to initiate legal proceedings and pursue those implicated in depriving Yemeni civilians of essential healthcare. It calls for measures to ensure that those responsible do not evade accountability and to protect future generations from gradual destruction.

    Issued by the American Center for Justice (ACJ)
    July 30, 2026

  • Lawyers Under Attack by Authorities: Iran Arrests and Tortures, Tunisia Imprisons, and the Houthis Kidnap

    Lawyers Under Attack by Authorities: Iran Arrests and Tortures, Tunisia Imprisons, and the Houthis Kidnap

    The American Center for Justice (ACJ) expresses its deep concern over the escalating campaign of systematic repression targeting lawyers and judges across the Middle East and North Africa. This statement highlights three serious cases that reveal a consistent pattern of state authorities using their authority as a tool to suppress the independent defence of human rights.

    On 1 April 2026, officers from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence raided the home of prominent human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh in Tehran, arrested her for the fifth time, and confiscated her electronic devices. During her detention, she was reportedly subjected to serious human rights violations, including beatings, the shackling of her hands and feet, and detention in inhumane conditions, as documented by Front Line Defenders. She was released on bail on 13 May 2026 after being charged with “propaganda against the state” in connection with her public statements concerning the government’s repression and Iran’s nuclear programme.

    Sotoudeh’s case is not an isolated incident. According to documentation by the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), at least 32 lawyers were arrested, brought before the courts, or imprisoned between January and June 2026. Documented cases include the arrest of lawyer Elham Zeraatpisheh, who was later sentenced to six years’ imprisonment, along with the confiscation of her passport; the arrest and enforced disappearance of lawyer Setareh Ansari in Fars Province in May 2026; and the sentencing of lawyer Javad Alikordi to eighteen years’ imprisonment.

    These patterns amount to a systematic assault on the independence of lawyers in Iran, in violation of Articles 9 and 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), as well as Principle 16 of the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers.

    In Tunisia, on 6 April 2026, the Tunis Court of Appeal sentenced Judge Anas Hamdi, President of the Tunisian Judges Association, to one year’s imprisonment on charges of “obstructing the freedom to work” under Article 136 of the Tunisian Penal Code. The charges stemmed from his role in the 2022 judges’ strike, which was organised in defence of judicial independence in response to presidential decrees dismissing fifty-seven judges. Hamdi had previously represented the dismissed judges in legal proceedings, which appears to have been the actual motive behind his prosecution.

    Three United Nations Special Rapporteurs explicitly expressed their “grave concern” over the case, stating that the conviction targets legitimate trade union activity. The case forms part of a broader pattern of repression affecting hundreds of opposition figures, lawyers, and civil society members in Tunisia. According to Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, at least eight lawyers are currently serving prison sentences, including the former President of the Tunisian Bar Association.

    This conviction constitutes a clear violation of Article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees the right to freedom of association, including the right to form and join trade unions, as well as the United Nations Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary.

    In Yemen, the Houthi de facto authorities continue to arbitrarily detain human rights lawyer Abdulmajeed Sabra, who has been held since 25 September 2025. On that date, Houthi militia forces raided his law office in the Shumaila district of Sana’a and abducted him without a judicial warrant. Sabra has remained in detention for more than nine months in facilities operated by the Houthi Security and Intelligence Service in the Sarf area, north of Sana’a, without being formally charged or brought before a judicial authority.

    In protest against his continued unlawful detention, Sabra undertook a hunger strike. While in custody, the Houthi authorities demanded that he abandon his human rights work, cease representing detainees, and refrain from publishing political views in exchange for his release. Despite his coerced acceptance of these conditions, they failed to honour their commitment to release him. Furthermore, Sabra’s brother documented that Houthi personnel threatened family members who had publicly advocated for his release on social media with arrest.

    Sabra is one of Yemen’s leading advocates for the rights of individuals detained in Houthi prisons. His continued detention constitutes a clear violation of Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which prohibits arbitrary detention, as well as the provisions of international humanitarian law protecting civilians.

    A United Nations communication issued by five Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups of the UN Human Rights Council called for the direct legal accountability of the Houthi de facto authorities, in their capacity as the de facto authorities in Sana’a, for the arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance of the prominent human rights lawyer Abdulmajeed Sabra.

    These three cases demonstrate that the targeting of lawyers and judges is not the result of isolated incidents but reflects a systematic policy. The authorities in Iran, Tunisia, and Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen are criminalising legitimate legal work and using it as a pretext to silence independent voices and render the guarantees of a fair trial meaningless.

    The American Center for Justice (ACJ) calls for:

    • The withdrawal of all charges against human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh and all lawyers detained in Iran in connection with their legitimate human rights work, as well as the establishment of an independent investigation into allegations of torture and other forms of ill-treatment.
      • The immediate and unconditional release of human rights lawyer Abdulmajeed Sabra and all individuals arbitrarily detained in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
    • The annulment of the conviction against Judge Anas Hamdi and an end to the judicial proceedings targeting lawyers and judges in Tunisia on the basis of their legitimate trade union activities.
    • The United Nations Human Rights Council and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to issue clear and public statements addressing these cases.

    American Center for Justice (ACJ).

  • Urgent Statement: The Yemeni Community in the Gaza Strip Between Existential Threat and Institutional Neglect

    Urgent Statement: The Yemeni Community in the Gaza Strip Between Existential Threat and Institutional Neglect

    More than 120 Yemeni nationals, representing approximately 18 families, are facing a dual siege in the Gaza Strip, trapped under continuous bombardment and deprived of even the minimum conditions necessary for survival. Their suffering is reflected in their forced displacement into makeshift tents that lack the most basic humanitarian standards, with severe shortages of food, safe drinking water, and medical care. These encampments have also become fertile environments for the spread of disease. The severity of these conditions is further compounded by declining international attention and diminishing media coverage, leaving those stranded, along with the broader population of the Gaza Strip, to endure the consequences of war in conditions of enforced isolation.

    Verified information confirms that the majority of those stranded are Yemeni women married to Palestinians, alongside their children and grandchildren. Their crisis extends beyond the immediate threat to their physical safety and encompasses complex legal and administrative challenges, particularly the expiration of travel documents for many individuals. This administrative barrier constitutes an additional obstacle that effectively eliminates opportunities for escape and urgently requires immediate institutional intervention to regularize their legal status and facilitate their evacuation. Official responsibility is further heightened by documented cases of missing persons among members of the Yemeni community, creating a legal and moral obligation to clarify their fate.

    The continued presence of these civilians in areas subject to direct targeting constitutes a grave violation of the right to life and personal security, while also devastating the psychological well-being and future prospects of children and young people growing up under the constant threat of violence and fear. In this context, the Yemeni government, represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its diplomatic missions, bears full constitutional responsibility for the protection of its citizens. Continued institutional silence amounts to an explicit abdication of the state’s fundamental duty to safeguard the lives of its nationals.

    Accordingly, the Center calls for the following:
    •⁠ ⁠The immediate issuance of emergency travel documents and the renewal of expired passports for stranded Yemenis in order to remove administrative obstacles impeding evacuation efforts.
    •⁠ ⁠The establishment of urgent and effective coordination with relevant authorities and international organizations to secure safe humanitarian corridors that ensure the evacuation of Yemeni families and their transfer to safe and stable locations.
    •⁠ ⁠The expansion and intensification of emergency humanitarian assistance to include Yemeni families and the wider civilian population of the Gaza Strip, who continue to suffer under the machinery of war, and to break the state of isolation and neglect exacerbated by the decline in international media attention.
    •⁠ ⁠The formation of a governmental crisis cell tasked with investigating the cases of missing persons and providing immediate humanitarian support to besieged families pending the completion of evacuation procedures.
    •⁠ ⁠The mobilization of Yemeni diplomatic efforts to press the international community to fulfill its responsibilities in protecting civilians and ensuring legal and on-the-ground protection for communities trapped in conflict zones.

  • Arbitrary Detention and Enforced Disappearance of a Citizen in Sana’a Over His Religious Advocacy Activities

    Arbitrary Detention and Enforced Disappearance of a Citizen in Sana’a Over His Religious Advocacy Activities

    Eyewitnesses informed the American Center for Justice (ACJ) that a security force affiliated with the Houthi group arrested the citizen “Ayman Dhabyan Mohammed” in front of a mosque in the Airport area of the capital, Sana’a, while he was on his way to perform Maghrib prayer, and took him to an undisclosed location.

    Dhabyan works operating a mobile ice cream cart. According to testimonies, the force, using a military vehicle and official uniforms, carried out the arrest without presenting any legal justification or arrest warrant issued by the public prosecutor’s office. The detainee is currently being subjected to enforced disappearance, as local police stations in the area have denied responsibility for his detention and have provided conflicting information to his family regarding his whereabouts, shifting responsibility between the district administration and the intelligence apparatus.

    Dhabyan is known for his voluntary religious outreach activities, including delivering sermons and religious lessons within his local community. His arrest comes within a broader context aimed at suppressing independent social actors, monopolizing public space, and preventing any religious or guidance activities that are not under the group’s supervision and control.

    The American Center for Justice emphasizes that these practices constitute a blatant violation of the right to personal liberty and security, and an infringement on freedom of belief and expression. The Center calls for the immediate disclosure of Ayman Dhubyan’s fate and his unconditional release, holding the Houthi-affiliated security authorities legally and criminally responsible for his safety and life.

  • Statement: The American Center for Justice (ACJ) Calls for an End to Systematic Repression Against Journalists in Yemen

    Statement: The American Center for Justice (ACJ) Calls for an End to Systematic Repression Against Journalists in Yemen

    On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, 3 May, the Yemeni media community continues to face targeted violations that strike at the core of the profession and the safety of those who practice it. Journalism in Yemen has increasingly become a high-risk endeavor, placing practitioners in direct confrontation with repressive authorities whose names may differ, but whose practices converge in the silencing of free expression.

    Houthi Detention Facilities: Medical Neglect as a Form of Abuse
    The American Center for Justice (ACJ) expresses deep concern over the severe deterioration in the health condition of journalist Adel Al-Siyaghi, who is detained by the Houthi group in Sana’a. Al-Siyaghi is reportedly suffering from extensive skin ulcers and is being deliberately denied access to basic medical care.

    The Center considers the deliberate denial of medical treatment to a detainee as a form of systematic ill-treatment that may amount to torture, aimed at undermining the physical and psychological integrity of detainees. The group bears full legal and moral responsibility for the life and well-being of Al-Siyaghi, as well as all detained journalists under its control, each of whom represents a prolonged story of suffering.

    Aden: Undermining the Rule of Law and Arbitrary Detention
    In the interim capital, Aden, another pattern of violations is evident in the continued detention of journalist Naseh Shaker, despite a judicial order mandating his release.

    Failure to implement court rulings undermines the authority and effectiveness of the judiciary and reflects the dominance of security actors operating beyond constitutional oversight. This conduct constitutes a clear case of arbitrary detention and requires immediate compliance with the rule of law and accountability.

    Demands and Calls for Action
    Ensuring the protection of journalism in Yemen requires the international community to move beyond rhetorical condemnation toward concrete measures that guarantee the safety and rights of journalists. Accordingly, the American Center for Justice calls for:

    •⁠ ⁠Immediate Release: The unconditional release of all detained journalists across all Yemeni governorates.

    •⁠ ⁠Urgent Medical Intervention: Allowing medical missions and international organizations to access Adel Al-Siyaghi and provide him with immediate and necessary treatment.

    •⁠ ⁠Respect for the Rule of Law: The prompt enforcement of judicial decisions ordering the release of Naseh Shaker, and an end to the overreach of security bodies over judicial authority.

    •⁠ ⁠International Accountability: Prioritizing violations against journalists in Yemen within international investigative mechanisms to ensure accountability and prevent impunity.

    The American Center for Justice affirms that the resilience of Yemeni journalists in the face of these challenges remains a vital safeguard for truth. Standing in solidarity with their just causes is a legal and moral obligation that cannot be deferred.

  • U.S. Federal Court Halts Trump Administration Decision to Terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemeni Nationals

    U.S. Federal Court Halts Trump Administration Decision to Terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemeni Nationals

    A U.S. federal court issued an emergency order today mandating the immediate suspension of the Trump administration’s decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemeni nationals. This ruling ensures that TPS will remain in effect pending a final judgment in the lawsuit, which alleges clear violations of the Administrative Procedure Act and the constitutional protections guaranteed under the Fifth Amendment.

    In its decision, the court stated: “Yemeni TPS holders are not ‘criminals,’ ‘burdens,’ or ‘seekers of unearned benefits.’ They are law-abiding individuals who were granted the right to remain in the United States because the government has repeatedly determined, under the TPS statute, that Yemen is experiencing an ongoing armed conflict, and that forcing their return under such conditions would pose a serious threat to their safety.”

    This ruling protects thousands of Yemeni nationals from the risk of forced deportation to a country facing one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. Official records continue to demonstrate the persistence of extraordinary conditions rendering Yemen unsafe, directly contradicting the rationale behind the termination decision, which lacked a basis in current and objective realities.

    In this context, “Ahmed,” a Yemeni engineer covered under the program and a father of six, two of whom are U.S. citizens, stated that he had felt secure with his children until the administration’s decision threatened to uproot them and return them to a war-torn country. He described the court’s intervention as a restoration of the sense of safety that had been taken from them. Such testimonies underscore the profound existential anxiety experienced by thousands of families whose members actively contribute to American society as doctors, engineers, and workers, and whose continued presence reflects resilience and strengthens the broader social fabric.

    For his part, attorney Abdulrahman Barman, Executive Director of the American Center for Justice, expressed his appreciation to the organizations involved in the case. He affirmed the Center’s commitment to pursuing the legal process through all necessary stages, in line with its professional responsibility to uphold the values of the United States and protect vulnerable populations from arbitrary decisions. Barman emphasized that humanitarian protections must not be repurposed as mechanisms for deportation, but rather must remain safeguards grounded in factual realities and conditions on the ground, free from political motivations that seek to strip migrants of their legally guaranteed protections.

  • Sixteen Years in Iraqi Prisons: Hasna Ali’s Case Prompts Urgent Calls to Secure the Release of 11 Yemeni Detainees

    Sixteen Years in Iraqi Prisons: Hasna Ali’s Case Prompts Urgent Calls to Secure the Release of 11 Yemeni Detainees

    The American Center for Justice (ACJ) has issued an urgent appeal to the Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, calling for immediate intervention to end the prolonged detention of eleven Yemeni nationals held in Iraqi prisons.

    In its statement, the Center highlighted the case of Yemeni detainee Hasna Ali, who is in her sixteenth year of detention. She has received cumulative prison sentences amounting to up to 32 years and is currently suffering from serious health conditions, including a perforation in the diaphragm and a gastric ulcer. She has also been deprived of contact with her children for many years.

    According to ACJ, many of the detainees are serving harsh sentences linked to broader political circumstances, reportedly without clear evidence of involvement in criminal or terrorist activities. The Center emphasized that this situation places a moral and legal responsibility on the Yemeni government to act to protect their rights and facilitate their return.

    The Center further noted that there is a viable opportunity to secure the transfer of Yemeni detainees from Iraqi prisons, pointing to similar agreements concluded by Baghdad with other countries. It urged the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council to take decisive sovereign action by directing relevant authorities to expedite the necessary legal and technical arrangements.

    Abdulrahman Barman, Executive Director of ACJ, stated that resolving this issue requires moving beyond ineffective administrative approaches that have failed in the past. He stressed that the case should be treated as a priority human rights matter at the core of the Council’s responsibilities, particularly given the deteriorating health conditions of several detainees, some of which have reached critical levels requiring immediate intervention. He also commended the constructive role played by the Yemeni embassy in efforts to address the issue.

    Hasna Ali is considered among the longest-serving female detainees in Iraq. She was arrested in 2010 and sentenced to imprisonment in connection with her marriage to Abu Ayyub al-Masri, a senior Al-Qaeda figure. She had married him in Yemen when he was working as a teacher in her village in Amran Governorate under an assumed identity. He later moved to the United Arab Emirates, where he served as an imam in a major mosque, before relocating to Iraq, where he became involved in leading the group’s activities against U.S. forces. He was killed in 2010.

  • Statement condemning the assassination of Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Shaer

    Statement condemning the assassination of Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Shaer

    The American Center for Justice (ACJ) strongly condemns the assassination of educational expert Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Shaer, carried out by unidentified armed assailants. This direct attack on a prominent academic figure constitutes a deliberate blow to the civilian fabric and reflects a grave deterioration in the security environment, while placing national professionals who contribute to societal development at serious risk.

    The Center affirms that the resurgence of targeted killings is intrinsically linked to the absence of accountability and the leniency of law enforcement institutions in addressing previous crimes. A climate of impunity emboldens criminal networks to expand their operations and provides them with a permissive environment to continue targeting intellectuals and influential figures. The lack of effective legal deterrence accelerates the cycle of violence and undermines what remains of social stability.

    The Center holds the Ministry of Interior and relevant security agencies fully responsible for safeguarding citizens and protecting their right to life. It underscores the urgent need to move beyond superficial measures and adopt concrete, effective actions to protect society from organized criminal violence.

    Accordingly, the American Center for Justice calls for the following:
    •⁠ ⁠Immediate action by the Ministry of Interior to pursue the perpetrators, apprehend them, and refer them to a competent, independent, and impartial judiciary.
    •⁠ ⁠The launch of a transparent and comprehensive investigation to uncover the motives, as well as the parties responsible for planning and financing the crime, and the prompt public disclosure of the findings.
    •⁠ ⁠The implementation of robust preventive security measures to protect civilians and public figures from potential targeting.
    •⁠ ⁠An end to the prevailing climate of impunity through the effective functioning of justice institutions and the strict enforcement of the law to prevent the recurrence of such crimes.

    American Center for Justice (ACJ)
    26 April 2026

  • a Letter to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

    a Letter to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

    American Center for Justice Warns Against the Forced Deportation of a Yemeni and a Moroccan in Benin

    The American Center for Justice (ACJ) has submitted an urgent communication to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) concerning the detention by authorities in the Republic of Benin of a Yemeni national and a Moroccan national. In its letter dated March 26, 2026, the Center highlighted the case of the Yemeni national, Ahmed Al-Maliki, who faces serious risks to his life and personal safety if returned to his country of origin, which continues to experience ongoing armed conflict and severe humanitarian conditions.

    The Center stressed that any attempt to forcibly return him would constitute a violation of the principle of non-refoulement, a cornerstone of international refugee law.

    ACJ urged UNHCR to intervene immediately to assess the protection needs of the individuals concerned and to prevent any unlawful deportation measures.

    The Center also raised serious concerns regarding the referral of the two individuals, Ahmed Al-Maliki and Abdelkamel El-Hmamouchi, to the Court for the Repression of Economic Offences and Terrorism (CRIET) in Cotonou, Benin. The Michigan-based organization indicated that it had received credible information suggesting that the individuals had been subjected to arbitrary detention and violations of fair trial guarantees, as well as the potential misuse of legal frameworks in their cases.

    It further urged UNHCR to monitor the ongoing judicial proceedings before this specialized court, ensure that legal frameworks are not misused against the detainees, and document any human rights violations associated with the case.

    In an urgent appeal, the American Center for Justice called for consideration of resettlement in a safe third country, given the impossibility of safe return to their countries of origin under current conditions, particularly in light of the worsening humanitarian crisis in Yemen. The Center expressed its full readiness to cooperate with UNHCR to ensure the safety of the detainees, emphasizing that the current situation may constitute serious violations of international human rights and refugee protection standards, and requires urgent action to prevent irreparable harm