The Yemeni government suspends its participation in the prisoner negotiations with the Houthis
English - Monday 05 June 2023 الساعة 06:27 pmThe Yemeni government announced, on Monday, the suspension of its participation in the prisoner negotiations, with the Houthi militia - the Iranian arm in Yemen - on the condition that it be allowed to visit the politician Muhammad Qahtan, who has been forcibly hidden in the Houthi prisons for more than eight years.
The head of the Governmental Prisoners and Detainees Foundation, Hadi Haig, said on his Twitter account: "We are approaching the blessed Eid al-Adha, and the family of Muhammad Qahtan, who was included in the UN political resolution, is still looking for his visit, and this is a human crime."
He added, "We all bear the moral and legal responsibility towards such a situation... Our position is clear not to participate until after the completion of this visit," referring to the suspension of participation in the UN-sponsored prisoner negotiations between the government and the Houthis.
Haig called on the UN envoy to Yemen to pressure the Houthis to allow the visit of "Mohammed Qahtan" so that the file could proceed.
The second round of prisoner exchange negotiations, which was scheduled to start on May 15, faltered, due to the failure of the exchange of visits of prisoners and abductees, due to the continued intransigence of the Houthi militia.