Sana'a Protesters Urge Saudis to Free Prisoners

By Mohammed Al-Attab

Sana'a- Mar 8, 2011- Yemeni people have vowed to escalate protests that have swept the country, demanding the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, after he rejected a plan that would have him step down in 2011.

Hundreds of protesters also gathered outside the Saudi Embassy calling for the release of all Yemeni nationals from Saudi jails.

The Yemen Center for Human Rights has expressed deep concern regarding the Yemeni government's failure to address repeated humanitarian appeals regarding Yemeni citizens who are being held in solitary confinement, without trial, in Saudi Arabia.

The Yemen Center for Human Rights has demanded the immediate release of the Yemeni citizens from Saudi prisons and providing all immediate guarantees for the detainees, such as allowing them to assign lawyers for themselves.

The center has also urged the Yemeni government to protect the rights of its citizens being held outside Yemen . Hajj Abdu Salah, a former inmate, had this to say to Press TV.

Apart from routine and modest consular communications, the Yemeni authorities have not made any serious attempts to secure the release of the Yemeni prisoners in Saudi Arabia . No Yemeni official has raised this issue with the Saudi authorities, nor have they demanded from the Saudis that they cease the detention of Yemeni citizens in a way that violates International laws and standards.

According to the demonstrators in Sana'a, this is particularly disappointing, given that both countries are members of the UN Human Rights Council and seek to appear to be among countries that respect and promote the protection of human rights.

Source: Press TV