Iman Who Reported the Digging Still in Jail
By the way, I wonder how those negotiations with the al-Qaeda escapees are going…its been several weeks since President Ali Abdullah Saleh reported that he was in contact with the escapees and negotiating with them for their return.
From New Yemen:
Riyad Al-Ghili, imam of the Awqaf mosque is still imprisoned following a press statement made by him stating that he had informed security concerning the holes around his mosque prior to the escape of 23 convicts. Among those who fled are many indicted for their connection with Al-Qaeda. They escaped through tunnels from the prison that exited into the women’s restroom of the Awqaf mosque.
Al-Ghili was released three days after his imprisonment and before the escape of the prisoners. He told News Yemen that members of the security force invaded his home. He also confirmed that he was investigated by the public prosecutor’s office and not by security.
The lawyer Khaled Al-Ansi, executive director for the national organization for the defense of rights and freedoms stated that he considers Al-Ghili’s imprisonment a breach of human rights. He confirmed that his organization had spoken with the deputy general and head of the political security unit.
The relatives of Al-Ghili have criticized the AP and News Yemen for not covering his arrest.
Al-Ansi considers the imprisonment an aggression against society’s right to know information and opinions as well as the charges filed against his person especially since this is a private citizen and not a government employee.
He was arrested the night of Wednesday and taken from his home.
The lawyer Mohammed Naji Alawa demanded the public prosecutor’s office to take swift action in investigating the issue and to allow the defendant to speak for himself. He continued by saying he hopes the authorities deal with the issue in accordance to the constitution and laws of the land.
Mr. Alawa stated that Hud will implore the council to investigate the case with respect to the prisoners’ rights. He declared that the prisoners currently live in inhumane circumstances and are handcuffed. They are in solitary confinement and are not allowed visitors.
In Al-Ghili’s first statement after his release he said that he had informed the police of the tunnels after hearing sounds coming from them. However, the police declared this as imaginations only.
