Sanaa accuses Saudi Arabia of obstructing prisoner exchange agreement
SANAA, July 11 (YPA) – The Sanaa-based governmental authorities on Saturday accused on Saturday Saudi Arabia of deliberately obstructing the implementation of the agreed prisoner exchange deal for political and military purposes.
They clarified the delays have prolonged the suffering of prisoners, detainees, and their families while undermining one of the key humanitarian files linked to the aggression coalition in Yemen.
In a statement, the National Human Rights Commission in Sanaa condemned Saudi Arabia’s continued procrastination and arbitrary handling of the agreement, despite the National Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs announcing that it had completed all required procedures and remained fully prepared to implement the deal according to the agreed timetable.
The statement criticized the Saudi side for refusing to include the remaining detainees held in its custody and for continuing to delay implementation of the agreement.
It said the handling of the prisoner file violated its humanitarian nature and amounted to exploiting the issue for political and military leverage at the expense of detainees and their families.
The statement stressed that the prisoner issue is a purely humanitarian matter that should not be subject to political or military considerations.
It said any deliberate obstruction of the exchange process increases violations against detainees and places full legal and moral responsibility on the party preventing implementation.
The statement called on the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the agreement’s sponsors and guarantors to exert effective pressure on the Saudi side to fulfill its commitments, end unjustified delays, and ensure the immediate and comprehensive implementation of the agreement.
It also urged the immediate execution of the prisoner exchange deal as agreed, covering all prisoners and detainees without exception, and called for full disclosure of the fate and whereabouts of all detainees.
The statement further urged that the prisoner file be kept separate from political and military negotiations and called for efforts to reach a comprehensive exchange based on the principle of “all for all.”
It renewed its appeal for all parties to prioritize humanitarian considerations, honor their commitments, and end the suffering of prisoners and their families without further delay.
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