The Statement on the detainee Ali Al-Saidi accused of apostasy.

Yemenat-Sana'a

The RSF, CCRY, and the Organization of Change for Defending Rights and Freedoms express a deep concern regarding the serious violations of human rights in Yemen  the latest of which is the case of Ali Ali Qasem Al-Saidy under arrest   who is accused of Apostasy, regarding his writings and discussions on his page in the face book,facing a serious threat to his life may get to the capital punishment. He is exposed to different kinds of pressure as a means of depriving him of his rights in thinking, expressing his opinions and beliefs on purpose of forbidding him of practicing what his religion asks him to do for scrutiny and meditation to conclude certainty in faith.

It seems that there are certain forces which have the desire to set Al-Saidy aside from his employment  as the Director General  of Budget and Planning  in the Supreme Judicial Council using the Judicial Authority and Public Prosecution as a tool of settling accounts. That is exactly  what we warned of earlier. We also called for a  deep reformation in the  judicial system since it must be the patron of human rights and freedom not the opposite.

We are surprised as he is interrogated by the Press and Publications Prosecution which is an Exceptional Prosecution though he is neither a journalist nor he is working in the field of journalism. That is another aggression on his rights in presenting before the ordinary judiciary.In addition the court passed over what is determined by legal texts of judging by virtue of independent judgment in his presented defenses. Moreover, the  Criminal Action neglected the conditions imposed by law before deciding on the subject including his right to defend himself. Many other contraventions in the investigation brought to bear against him since his arrest till now.

According to his family, he is now facing a great pressure put on him either by  intimidation or enticement, taking advantage of the suffering of his family consisted of his wife, five children and his parents since he is the sole breadwinner for them to obligate him to announce what they call repentance from disbelief.

His family exposed that their breadwinner, under those pressures, decided to repent, but they insist on suppressing him by present him to the trial, despite the fact that this is a violation of the law, according to article "259" of the Penal Code, which eliminates the punishment as a result of his repentance.

The worst of it is that the prosecution asked the court for separating Saidi from his wife,  dismissing him from  job, and  for executing him for being infidel, despite his assurances and his insistence on confessing the Two Testimonies, and all the Pillars of Islam. His family also consider the arrest of their breadwinner an exceptional order of the Exceptional Jurisdiction of Press and Publication specialized in publishing and press cases, in which there is not protective custody without justification according to law and according to that Al-Saidi was released at the beginning of the investigation on his residence and work guaranty. It means that no fear of his escape with his commitment to attend all court hearings.

We in the RSF, CCRY, and the Change Organization for Defending Rights and Freedoms announce our full solidarity with the detainee, Ali Ali Al-Saidi, with his rights   of thought, expression, and belief. We also strongly condemn the policy of infidelity both used by formal and informal institutions and charge the prosecution and judiciary with the legal responsibility towards the detainee is subjected of violations of his rights guaranteed by local and international law and call  all human rights organizations and civil revolutionary participants to show solidarity with him and bring pressure to bear on official bodies to be released immediately.

We also emphasize that change and the establishment of modern, civic, and democratic country cannot be achieved unless an independent, impartial and fair judiciary is established. We call upon all the revolutionary forces to unite efforts in order to exert real pressure on the parties of the ruling political system in Yemen in order to initiate a profound change and a new formulation of a judicial institution and stop human rights violations and charge those who justify such violations.

Sana'a, issued on 12.03.2012;:
Peaceful Revolution Salvation Front
Civic Coalition of Revolutionary Youth

Change Organization for Defending Rights and Freedoms