Saudi-backed Aden authorities arrest senior STC official

ADEN, Sept. 28 (YPA) – The Saudi-backed authorities in the southern city of Aden on Monday abducted a senior leader of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and took him to a prison in the city, amid widespread condemnation.

Sources familiar with the matter said Saudi-backed forces arrested Ahmed Abdi, head of the STC’s local leadership in Al-Tawahi district, over his educational and student activities at schools in the area, including leading students in chanting the council’s slogans and raising what the sources called the secession flag.

The sources said Abdi’s detention sparked widespread anger among STC supporters in Aden. The council’s executive body condemned the arrest and called in an official statement for his immediate and unconditional release.

The body described the arrest and the ban on raising the STC’s symbol in Aden schools as highly serious, demanding an official and transparent explanation of the reasons behind the directives and the party responsible for them.

Meanwhile, the so-called Southern Tribes Union, which supports the STC, called for Abdi’s urgent release and for his safety, dignity and legal rights to be guaranteed.

In a statement, the Union urged Aden residents to peacefully and lawfully express their rejection of such practices, away from chaos, amid calls to end Saudi tutelage.

@@