Angry demonstration in Taiz demands release of activist arrested over post on electricity

TAIZ, Aug. 11 (YPA) – The city of Turbah, the center of Shamayatayn district in Taiz province, witnessed an angry demonstration on Monday against the arrest of activist Shuaib Mohammed Al-Thubhani by elements affiliated with the Islah Party loyal to the Saudi-led coalition.

The demonstrators toured the city’s main streets until they reached the Turbah Security Directorate headquarters, where protesters demanded Al-Dhubhani’s immediate release.

The activist was arrested on Sunday following a post on social media in which he criticized the high government electricity tariffs and called for a reduction.

Protesters raised pictures of Al-Dhubhani and chanted slogans denouncing the Islah Party’s security violations, which target journalists and activists in an attempt to silence voices demanding rights.

The protesters gave the security authorities a 24-hour deadline to release Al-Dhubhani, threatening to escalate the protest if their demands were not met.

Al-Dhubhani wrote in his post that “Electricity that is your right and your children’s right has today been transformed into an investment project that mercilessly plunders people’s pockets,” and that “the government electricity investor imposes exorbitant bills, so that even those who have nothing but a light bulb and a charger pay as if they were operating a factory.”

YPA