Rights Organization Calls for Investigation into Human Rights Violations in Abyan Governorate
Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties has expressed deep concern over horrifying scenes circulated from Abyan Governorate, showing members of the Southern Transitional Council’s (STC) counter-terrorism forces patrolling the city with the body of a slain individual tied to the front of a military armored vehicle.
The organization clarified that the body belongs to a man named Abu Zaid Al-Hadi Al-Yafei, who was killed during a security operation in the city of Ataq in Shabwa Governorate, under accusations of affiliation with a terrorist organization. SAM affirmed that such actions are completely unjustifiable, emphasizing the necessity of upholding the principles of justice and human dignity.
The organization stressed that such acts constitute a blatant violation of both Yemeni and international laws. Article (226) of the Yemeni Penal Code criminalizes the mutilation or desecration of human corpses. It also underscored that Islamic Sharia law forbids such actions, as made clear by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ’s words: “Do not mutilate.”
SAM added that this act may be classified as a war crime under international humanitarian law, highlighting that respect for human dignity must be the foundation of any effort to build a state based on law and institutions.
The organization called for an urgent and transparent investigation into the incident, stressing the responsibilities of the Yemeni government, the Attorney General, and leaders of the security institutions to protect human rights and ensure that security and military bodies operate under the rule of law.
SAM also urged the international community—particularly the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights—to take immediate action to investigate this crime. It warned that silence or justification of such practices amounts to dangerous complicity and contributes to the collapse of values and justice.
