Tihama people force UAE-backed factions to release activists

TAIZ, Oct. 18 (YPA) – The UAE-funded factions of the leader Tariq Afash, the nephew of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, released on Saturday media and education activist Abdo Muqabab, two days after his abduction, which sparked widespread anger in the city of Mocha, west of Taiz province.

Human rights and media sources confirmed that the release of Muqabab, came as a result of intense human rights and community pressure exerted by local groups from the Tihama region to demand an end to violations against media and education activists.

Muqabab was kidnapped last Thursday by Taher al-Sabri, appointed by Tariq Afash as director of the so-called Civil Status and Passports Authority in Mocha.

Muqabab was initially taken to the Military Police prison before being transferred to one of the notorious prisons in the “security zone” under the control of the Tariq Afash’s factions.

Tariq Afash’s factions have not issued any official comment explaining the reasons for the kidnapping of activist Muqabab or the circumstances of his release. The motives behind the initial kidnapping remain unclear.

The kidnapping of educator Muqabab sparked widespread anger on social media platforms, with many Tihama activists expressing their absolute rejection of the arrest of media professionals and educators without legal justification.

The people of Tihama renewed their demands that freedom of opinion and expression should be respected, with ending arbitrary arrests in areas under the control of Emirati and Saudi factions south of Hodeida and west of Taiz province.

AA