SAM for Rights and Liberties strongly condemns the arrest of journalist Hamoud Hazzah, who was taken into custody by security forces in Marib governorate after they stormed his home in Al-Jufaina camp. The incident constitutes a grave violation of rights and freedoms guaranteed by law and the Yemeni constitution.
Prior to his arrest, Hazzah posted on his Facebook page that security personnel were positioned outside his home intending to detain him. In a subsequent post, he reported that a security force identifying itself as part of the Fourth Security Zone forcefully broke down his door, terrifying his family. He later wrote: “I am a journalist, and if there is any complaint against me, please submit it to the prosecution.”
SAM expresses deep concern over the opaque circumstances of Hazzah’s arrest, carried out without explanation from the Marib security authorities. The organization stresses that the arrest amounts to arbitrary detention in clear violation of Yemen’s Code of Criminal Procedure, which requires a judicial order from the Public Prosecution prior to any arrest. Moreover, the violent raid on his home represents a flagrant breach of the constitutional sanctity of private residences and the intimidation of his family constitutes cruel and degrading treatment prohibited under both domestic law and international conventions.
The organization further voices serious fears for Hazzah’s safety, particularly given the total lack of information on his whereabouts since the moment of his arrest. SAM holds the Marib security authorities fully responsible for his physical and psychological wellbeing, emphasizing that concealing his place of detention amounts to enforced disappearance, a crime under international law.
SAM calls on the Marib authorities to issue an immediate public clarification, disclose Hazzah’s fate and place of detention without delay, allow him full access to his family and legal counsel, and release him unconditionally. The organization further urges an independent investigation into the raid and arrest, accountability for those involved, and concrete guarantees against future violations targeting journalists for