16.3.2026

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The Women’s Solidarity Network expresses its deep concern over the continued detention of Yemeni lawyer and human rights defender Abdulmajid Sabra, who has been held for nearly six months without any formal charges, amid reports of prolonged incommunicado detention and denial of fundamental legal safeguards.

The Network voices its support for the appeal made by Ms. Mary Lawlor, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, who has called on the de facto authorities in Sana’a to release Mr. Sabra, particularly with the approach of Eid al-Fitr, invoking the values of justice and compassion.

The Women’s Solidarity Network also welcomes the communication issued by several UN Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups of the Human Rights Council, which addressed Mr. Sabra’s detention and underscored the obligation to respect peremptory norms of international law, including the prohibition of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance, and the duty to guarantee the rights of individuals under de facto authorities in accordance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

The Network affirms that Abdulmajid Sabra is a well-respected legal professional in Yemen, who has played a significant role in defending victims of violations, including providing legal defense for many detained and forcibly disappeared women, as well as offering legal support to victims of human rights abuses. His continued detention therefore raises serious concern within the human rights community.

The Network considers that targeting a lawyer and human rights defender for his opinions or legitimate work constitutes a grave violation of the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers and undermines the foundations of justice and the rule of law.

Accordingly, the Women’s Solidarity Network calls for:

• The immediate and unconditional release of Abdulmajid Sabra;
• Disclosure of his place of detention and guarantees for his physical and psychological safety;
• Full respect for legal safeguards and the rights of detainees in accordance with international law;
• An end to the targeting of human rights defenders and lawyers for their legitimate work.

The Network reaffirms its full solidarity with all human rights defenders in Yemen and stresses the importance of ensuring a safe and enabling environment that allows them to carry out their legitimate work in defending rights and freedoms.

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Women’s Solidarity Network