Barran Press
A large protest has taken place in Aden, the temporary capital of Yemen, demanding the release of Sheikh Ali Ashal Al-Ja'adani, who was abducted by security forces loyal to the Southern Transitional Council (STC) on June 12th.
ِAccording to "Barran Press" reporter, Protesters, hailing from the governorates of Aden, Abyan, and Lahj, converged at the Al-Aroos Square in Khor Makser district amidst heavy security measures imposed by the STC, particularly at checkpoints leading into Aden.
Despite the security presence, a significant number of protesters managed to reach the square, participating in the demonstration organized by a committee composed of social figures, military leaders, activists, and lawyers, mostly from Abyan, Al-Ja'adani's home province.
The protest saw banners condemning the abduction, while participants chanted slogans demanding the immediate release of Al-Ja'adani and all other detainees and forcibly disappeared individuals, calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
Aden city witnessed a heavy security deployment throughout the day, with STC security forces initially surrounding Al-Aroos Square before withdrawing to nearby locations. Security forces affiliated with the Aden Governorate Police were also stationed at the square's entrances, ostensibly for the protesters' protection.
Early Tuesday morning, four individuals, including a relative of Al-Ja'adani, were abducted while preparing the protest stage in the Mansoura district. Sources within the protest organizing committee claim that the abductions were carried out by forces affiliated with the Security Belt, tasked with preparing the stage for the demonstration.
The tribes of Abyan had previously threatened to escalate their actions if their demands for Al-Ja'adani's release were not met, vowing to mobilize for a protest in Aden on July 16th.
On Monday, July 15th, the Attorney General of Aden, Qahir Mustafa, issued a decision to open an investigation into Al-Ja'adani's abduction. He assigned Azzam Ibrahim Abdulghani, head of the technical office at the Attorney General's office, to lead the investigation, granting him the authority of the Attorney General to handle serious crimes related to the case.
On July 9th, the Supreme Security Committee, chaired by Defense Minister Mohsen al-Da'ari, ordered the suspension of Yaseran al-Maqtri, head of the counter-terrorism unit in Aden, and issued warrants for the arrest of others connected to Al-Ja'adani's disappearance.
The committee ordered the suspension of al-Maqtri and referred him for investigation, along with warrants for the arrest of Samih Eidrous al-Norgi, Tamam Mohammed Ghaleb Hassan "al-Batta," Bakil Mukhtar Mohammed Saad, and Mahmoud Othman Saeed al-Hindi.
The committee also ordered the arrest of any suspects in all crimes and the pursuit of fugitives, with the Attorney General overseeing the investigations and expediting the completion of procedures for referral to judicial authorities.
Prior to this, tribes from Abyan, Al-Ja'adani's home province, had given Aden's security forces a deadline to disclose the whereabouts of their abducted son and apprehend those responsible for his abduction.
On June 28th, Abyan tribes held a consultative meeting in Aden to discuss the disappearance of their son, Brigadier General Ali Ashal Al-Ja'adani, in Aden on June 12th. They threatened to escalate their actions if he was not released unharmed, asserting their right to respond and leaving open the possibility of various options.
They called on the Presidential Leadership Council, the government of national unity, the STC, and the leadership of the Arab coalition to intervene urgently to disclose the location of Brigadier General Ali Abdullah Ashal Al-Ja'adani and secure his release.
The tribes claim that Al-Ja'adani was abducted in Aden on June 12th and his whereabouts remain unknown, while security forces have taken no action.
On July 2nd, military, security, and local authorities in Abyan declared their support for the province's tribes in their escalating actions to demand the release of Brigadier General Ali Ashal Al-Ja'adani, who has been missing in Aden since June 12th.