The BBC has uncovered a network of secret prisons operated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Yemen, confirming long-standing allegations of human rights abuses amid the country's civil war. Access to these detention facilities on former UAE military bases, revealed shocking conditions and testimonies from detainees who experienced extreme physical and psychological abuse. One former prisoner described being beaten and sexually assaulted, while another recalled spending time in overcrowded shipping containers with little ventilation, where up to 60 men were forced to sit upright without space to lie down.
The UAE has consistently denied accusations regarding the treatment of detainees, yet testimonies from former prisoners and human rights organizations delineate a grim picture of widespread abuses. With the recent fracturing of alliances between Yemeni forces and the UAE, calls for transparency and accountability have intensified, particularly as families of the detained express frustration over the ongoing detention of their loved ones.
Yemeni Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani confirmed the existence of these facilities, stating that victims had long claimed they existed, even as the government struggled to access areas under UAE control. As international media were invited to report on the findings, the deteriorating relationship between Saudi Arabia and the UAE came into sharp focus, raising further questions about the complicity of various parties involved in the civil conflict.
In response to the revelations, the Yemeni government has begun to shut down 'illegal' facilities. Still, the complexities of transferring detainees into the formal justice system remain daunting, with families fearing that arbitrary detentions may continue under new control. Many are still searching for answers about the fate of their loved ones, worrying that they may never return home.
The UAE has consistently denied accusations regarding the treatment of detainees, yet testimonies from former prisoners and human rights organizations delineate a grim picture of widespread abuses. With the recent fracturing of alliances between Yemeni forces and the UAE, calls for transparency and accountability have intensified, particularly as families of the detained express frustration over the ongoing detention of their loved ones.
Yemeni Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani confirmed the existence of these facilities, stating that victims had long claimed they existed, even as the government struggled to access areas under UAE control. As international media were invited to report on the findings, the deteriorating relationship between Saudi Arabia and the UAE came into sharp focus, raising further questions about the complicity of various parties involved in the civil conflict.
In response to the revelations, the Yemeni government has begun to shut down 'illegal' facilities. Still, the complexities of transferring detainees into the formal justice system remain daunting, with families fearing that arbitrary detentions may continue under new control. Many are still searching for answers about the fate of their loved ones, worrying that they may never return home.
