Details of the practices of the UAE forces in Al-Rayyan Airport prison in Yemen
Recent media reports, details of which were attributed to the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, have shed light on a sensitive issue concerning alleged practices by Emirati forces against prisoners and detainees at Riyan International Airport in Mukalla, the capital of Yemen's Hadramawt Governorate. This revelation has reopened the debate surrounding secret prisons and unofficial detention centers in Yemen, a topic that has long sparked widespread controversy in local and international human rights and political circles.
Historical background: From the liberation of Mukalla to the airport being turned into a barracks
To understand the context of these events, one must go back to April 2016, when the Arab Coalition forces, with significant support from Emirati forces, managed to expel al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula from the city of Mukalla. At that time, residents were hopeful for the return of security. However, Riyan International Airport, the province's lifeline, did not immediately resume civilian service. Instead, the airport was transformed into a military base and command center for Emirati forces, and a detention center was established within it, later known as "Riyan Airport Prison.".
The nature of the violations and the humanitarian situation
Reports indicate harsh treatment of detainees, ranging from arbitrary detention for extended periods without trial or formal charges, to accounts of ill-treatment and inhumane detention conditions. International human rights organizations have previously documented testimonies from families of detainees who held repeated protests in Mukalla demanding information about the fate of their sons, who were forcibly disappeared within the airport grounds, and calling for visits or for their cases to be referred to the Yemeni judiciary.
The political and legal dimensions of the issue
The impact of the Al-Rayyan airport prison case extends beyond the humanitarian sphere, exerting political pressure on the legitimate Yemeni government and the Arab Coalition. The continued discussion of extrajudicial violations undermines the Coalition's narrative of restoring the state and establishing the rule of law. Furthermore, this issue has become a recurring theme in UN reports, with the UN Group of Eminent Experts repeatedly emphasizing the need to close unofficial detention centers and place all prisons under the authority of the Yemeni Public Prosecutor's Office.
Impact on the stability of Hadramawt
Hadhramaut Governorate is among the most stable Yemeni governorates compared to other conflict zones. However, the unresolved issue of detainees at Riyan Airport threatens social peace in the governorate. The persistent demands from Hadhrami groups for the complete handover of the airport to civilian authorities and its reopening for flights, coupled with a resolution to the detainees' situation, reflect the local community's desire to turn the page on the war and its harsh security consequences, and to return to normal life under the rule of law.
