GENEVA — SAM for Rights and Liberties stated that a full year has passed since Houthi authorities in Sana’a took lawyer Abdulmajeed Sabra from his office into custody. Since that day, his case has shifted from an act of arrest into a prolonged deprivation of liberty, while information regarding the legal basis for his continued detention remains scarce, and Sabra continues to be kept away from his family, his practice, and his professional work.

The organization noted that Sabra’s continued detention after twelve months raises serious questions regarding the legality and purpose of this measure, particularly given his well-known defense of detainees, journalists, and individuals facing violations or prosecution for exercising their right to freedom of expression.

Prior to his arrest, Sabra was actively involved in several cases related to public freedoms and detainees' rights, practicing his profession in legal matters that inherently placed him in direct opposition to the ruling authorities. In this context, SAM maintains that his continued detention cannot be isolated from the broader operating environment for lawyers and rights defenders in Houthi-controlled areas.

SAM highlighted that the issue is no longer merely why Sabra was arrested in September 2025, but why he remains detained for this prolonged period. Every day that passes without a clear, publicized legal basis for his ongoing deprivation of liberty adds a new dimension to the case and deepens concerns that his detention is directly tied to his professional role and public opinions.

In this regard, Tawfiq Al-Hamidi, President of SAM for Rights and Liberties, stated: "After a full year, the question is no longer just why Abdulmajeed Sabra was arrested, but why he remains detained today. A lawyer who defends detainees must not become a detainee himself because of his work, nor should peaceful stances serve as grounds to punish an individual through the deprivation of liberty."

Al-Hamidi added: "Sabra’s prolonged detention sends a message that extends far beyond him as an individual. When lawyers feel that defending their clients could lead to imprisonment, the issue compromises the very right of individuals to access legal counsel and secure genuine legal protection."

From a legal standpoint, SAM emphasizes that international law prohibits detaining individuals outside a clear legal framework that they can fully comprehend and contest. Every detainee has the right to be informed of the reasons for their deprivation of liberty, to challenge it before an independent judicial body, and to be afforded adequate time and facilities to prepare a defense.

In the same vein, the organization stresses that safeguarding the legal profession does not merely mean protecting lawyers as individuals; it entails preserving the critical role they serve within the justice system. Fair trial standards cannot be upheld while defense attorneys fear reprisals for taking on specific cases, or fear that advocating for detainees may turn into grounds for their own prosecution.

One year into Sabra’s detention, SAM considers that the absence of clear public information regarding the trajectory of his case and the legal rationale for his continued deprivation of liberty makes ending his detention an urgent matter that tolerates no further delay.

Accordingly, the organization calls upon the Houthi authorities to release Abdulmajeed Sabra immediately and to halt all measures linked to his legal practice, human rights advocacy, or peaceful expression of his opinions.

Pending his release, SAM urges the authorities to grant his family and legal counsel regular access, guarantee that he receives all necessary care, and ensure he is not subjected to any pressure or treatment that undermines his dignity or safety.

More broadly, the organization urges an end to practices that expose lawyers to prosecution due to the cases they accept, and calls for an environment where legal practitioners can defend their clients and discharge their professional responsibilities without fear of their vocation becoming a source of danger.

SAM also appeals to international bodies concerned with human rights and the independence of the legal profession to keep Abdulmajeed Sabra’s case under active review, demand an end to his detention, and ensure respect for the rights of lawyers and human rights defenders in Yemen.

One year following his arrest, SAM affirms that Abdulmajeed Sabra’s prolonged detention requires no further justifications, but rather an immediate decision to end it and return him to his family and his profession.