The family of prominent Yemeni politician Mohammed Qahtaan, who has been held captive by the Houthi group for ten years, has vehemently rejected the recent announcement from Muscat regarding his potential release. The family issued a statement on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, denouncing the "farces and statements" emanating from the Omani capital.

The statement, which was obtained by "Barran Press," came after the announcement that delegations from the Yemeni government and the Houthi group, participating in prisoner and detainee negotiations in Oman, had reached an understanding on procedures for releasing individuals held in connection with the conflict.

The Qahtaan family asserted that they had not authorized any party to speak on behalf of their father, let alone engage in negotiations or compromises regarding his fate. They held the Houthi group, internationally designated as a terrorist organization, responsible for any potential harm that might befall their father in captivity, particularly in light of the recent statements from Muscat.

The family expressed their frustration with the recurring "absurd statements" from the Houthi militia, stating that their sole demand is for Mohammed Qahtaan's safe return home. They condemned the issuance of such statements by certain members of the government negotiating team, accusing them of "violating directives from the presidency, the government, and all those who support Qahtaan within Yemen and abroad" by initiating discussions before visiting his family.

The family emphasized that these statements and agreements do not reflect their aspirations and are not commensurate with their father's sacrifices and their ongoing suffering. They declared that they will not accept any settlement that ignores their father's rights as a human being and a Yemeni citizen.

The statement called upon the internationally recognized Yemeni government and the international community to "take immediate and serious action to secure his release without conditions or delay." They condemned the "absurdity, language, and statements lacking humanity, ethics, values, and laws" conducted under the auspices of the United Nations through the Office of the Envoy.

The family vowed to continue their struggle until their father regains his full freedom, appealing to all human rights and humanitarian organizations to stand with them and support their just cause. They asserted that their suffering, along with the suffering of every family with a forcibly disappeared loved one, cannot be subject to political bargaining or suspicious deals. They demanded the unconditional release of all detainees and forcibly disappeared individuals.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Yemeni Islah Party, Adnan al-Odaini, expressed concerns about the negotiation process, questioning the credibility of the Houthi narrative surrounding the proposed prisoner exchange deal.

In a post on X, al-Odainistated that "succumbing to the absurd possibilities presented by the militia and echoing them raises questions about the course of the negotiations." He characterized the Houthi statements regarding Qahtaan's release as "frivolous and unethical," suggesting they are more about manipulation and verbal consumption than genuine goodwill.

Earlier in the day, the head of the Houthi delegation participating in the Muscat negotiations, Abdulqader al-Murtada, stated that an agreement had been reached to release Mohammed Qahtaan in exchange for 50 Houthi prisoners. He added that if Qahtaan is deceased, his remains would be handed over in exchange for 50 government bodies.

The Office of the UN Envoy to Yemen reported that delegations from the Yemeni government and the Houthi group, participating in prisoner and detainee negotiations in Oman, had reached an understanding on procedures for releasing individuals held in connection with the conflict. The office, in a statement seen by Barran Press, emphasized the need to complete the negotiations on this understanding with a sense of responsibility to achieve tangible results towards the release of all detainees in accordance with the "all for all" principle.

The current round of negotiations, the statement added, is part of ongoing UN efforts to support the parties in fulfilling their commitments under the Stockholm Agreement.

Majid Fadil, spokesperson for the government delegation participating in the Muscat negotiations, confirmed in a tweet on "X" seen by Barran Press, that the government delegation had reached an agreement with the Houthi delegation, under the auspices of the United Nations, on the exchange of 50 Houthi prisoners for Mohammed Qahtaan, who has been kidnapped and held captive for over nine years.

The latest round of prisoner exchange negotiations between the internationally recognized Yemeni government and the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, began in Muscat on Sunday, June 30, 2024, under UN supervision.

At the opening session, the head of the government negotiating delegation, Yahya Kaman, emphasized the importance of resolving the issue of Mohammed Qahtaan's fate for the success of the negotiations. He stated that securing Qahtaan's release and exchange is a primary objective, paving the way for a broader agreement and closing this humanitarian file by releasing all detainees and kidnapped individuals from all parties without exception.

Qahtaan, a prominent figure in the Yemeni Islah Party, the largest political party in the country, is one of four individuals whom UN Security Council Resolution 2216 of 2015 demanded the Houthis release.

The Houthis apprehended Qahtaan from his home in Sana'a on April 5, 2015, days after placing him under house arrest. His family has stated that they are unaware of his whereabouts or condition and have had no contact with him since his detention.

In April 2023, the government and the Houthis implemented the latest prisoner exchange deal, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations, following negotiations in Switzerland. The deal resulted in the release of approximately 900 prisoners and detainees from both sides.