Yemeni revolutionaries demand release of political prisoners

Yemeni revolutionaries rallied in front of government headquarters on Tuesday, calling for the immediate release of detainees held due to their participation in the 2011 revolt that eventually toppled US-backed dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The protesters held up placards in support of prisoners of the uprising and against what they, and human rights organizations described, as “arbitrary arrests”.

Protesters said they would continue to demonstrate every Tuesday in conjunction with periodical government meetings until their demands are met and detainees are released.

Mass protests erupted in Yemen 16 months ago and led to the ouster of Saleh, although the US and Saudi Arabia were able to conjure a deal that ensured large remnants of the regime remained in power.

The revolt also divided the Yemeni Army between forces loyal to Saleh and his rival General Ali Mohsen al Ahmar, both of whom arrested protesters.

The head of the General Council for Detainees of the Yemeni Revolution Abdel Karim Thail said in a statement distributed during the protests that “arrests of revolutionaries has not stopped yet”, making reference to the arrest of three protesters last week in Dali province by security services.

The three are still being held despite superior orders for their release.

The council warned the reconciliation government from being lenient towards those guilty of detaining protesters, adding it would “lead to a wave of revolutionary anger.”

Thail called on all revolutionary factions in Yemen to suspend any national dialogue until all detainees are released.

Dozens of detainees that participated in the protests linger in jail despite current president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi pledging to work towards the release of political prisoners.