Barran Press
A coalition of 148 Yemeni civil society organizations expressed deep concern and strong condemnation of recent developments in the ongoing negotiations in Muscat, Oman, regarding the fate of forcibly disappeared individuals, particularly the prominent civilian politician Mohammed Qahtan.
In a joint statement released on Thursday, July 4thand seen by Barran Press, the organizations expressed shock at the agreement reached between the Houthi group and the internationally recognized government, which stipulates the exchange of Qahtan, if alive, for 50 prisoners held by the legitimate government. If deceased, his remains would be exchanged for 30 bodies of Houthi fighters.
The organizations deemed this agreement "contrary to human reason and logic," arguing that it rewards the perpetrators of Qahtan's abduction and enforced disappearance, which has lasted for years.
They further stated that exchanging Qahtan, if alive, for 50 prisoners constitutes a "gross violation of justice." Similarly, exchanging his body for 50 bodies of Houthi fighters contradicts human rights principles and international law.
While welcoming any progress in the file, the organizations urged all parties to overcome difficulties but firmly rejected any form of rewarding the perpetrators of these heinous crimes. Instead, they emphasized the need to hold them accountable and bring them to justice for their crimes against Yemenis.
The statement stressed the importance of international and local pressure to ensure justice, prosecute those responsible for these crimes, provide full support to the victims' families, and assist them in seeking justice and compensation.
They called upon the international community and global human rights organizations to stand with them in demanding accountability for perpetrators of violations in Yemen.
The civil society organizations concluded by emphasizing that justice is not achieved by rewarding criminals but by holding them accountable and punishing them for their criminal acts.
On Wednesday, July 3rd, the head of the Houthi delegation participating in the Muscat negotiations, Abdulqader Al-Murtada, announced an agreement to release Qahtan in exchange for 50 Houthi prisoners. If deceased, his remains would be returned in exchange for 50 bodies from the Yemeni government.
The UN envoy's office confirmed that the delegations of the Yemeni government and the Houthi group participating in prisoner and disappeared persons negotiations in Oman had reached an understanding on procedures for releasing detainees, including Qahtan.
The office stated in a statement that the negotiations are currently taking place in a positive and constructive atmosphere, emphasizing the need to complete the negotiation of this understanding with a sense of responsibility to achieve tangible results toward the release of all detainees held in connection with the conflict, based on the "all for all" principle.
Government delegation spokesperson Majid Fadel confirmed the agreement, stating that the government delegation had reached an agreement with the Houthi delegation, witnessed by the UN, to exchange 50 Houthi prisoners for Qahtan, who has been abducted and disappeared for over nine years.
On Sunday, June 30th, a new round of prisoner exchange negotiations between the internationally recognized Yemeni government and the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, commenced in Muscat under UN supervision.
During the opening session on Sunday, the head of the government negotiating delegation, Yahya Kzman, linked the success of the negotiations to the revelation of Qahtan's fate.
Kzman stated that one of the objectives of their participation is the release and exchange of Qahtan, whom he described as a "major obstacle" whose case must be resolved before moving on to a broader process and closing this humanitarian file by releasing all detainees and abductees held by all parties without exception.
Qahtan is a prominent leader of the Yemeni Islah Party, the largest political party in the country, and one of four individuals whom UN Security Council Resolution 2216 of 2015 demanded the Houthis release.
The Houthis arrested Qahtan from his home in Sana'a on April 5th, 2015, days after placing him under house arrest. His family has stated that they are unaware of his fate or location and have not been able to communicate with him since his detention.
In April 2023, the government and the Houthis carried out the latest prisoner exchange, involving the release of approximately 900 prisoners and detainees from both sides, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN, following negotiations in Switzerland.