Prominent human rights lawyer Abdulmajeed Sabra remains arbitrarily detained nearly eight months after his arrest in the capital, Sana’a, by the de facto government, the Houthi group.

On 12 May 2025, his brother, Waleed Sabra, posted an appeal on his Facebook page titled “Freedom for Abdulmajeed Sabra” demanding his immediate release. The appeal began, “230 days after the arrest of lawyer Abdulmajeed Sabra, he remains arbitrarily detained without any clear legal process, without any proven charges, and without any justification for his continued deprivation of liberty.”

He also confirmed that, “His last interrogation was on 10 November 2025, during which he agreed to unfair conditions in exchange for his release. However, he was not released. After the interrogation, they found no real charges or accusations against him, so he was transferred to the Security and Intelligence Reformatory in the Shamlan area, where he was left for more than six months without any follow-up or clear legal proceedings.” The Shamlan area is located northwest of Sana’a.

On 30 April 2026, his daughter Asma posted the following on her Facebook page: “Visiting my father in prison is one of the hardest moments. Words are filled with longing, love, and psychological support… Seeing you well and strong today is happiness for us. I wish I could take you out of that place with me.”

On 07 December 2025, he began a hunger strike, which lasted for several days, to protest his arbitrary arrest and detention incommunicado.

On 15 September 2025, an armed group affiliated with the Houthi group arrested him after storming his office in the Shamila district of Sana’a and taking him to an unknown location.

Although his arrest came after he posted on social media celebrating the 26 September Revolution in Yemen, the real reason for his targeting by the authorities is his unwavering legal defense of prisoners of conscience in Yemen.

The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) urges the Houthi movement in Yemen to immediately and unconditionally release prominent human rights lawyer Abdulmajeed Sabra and all other citizens detained for peacefully exercising their human and civil rights, including their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.

Act now!

We call on all freedom advocates to demand the immediate and unconditional release of prominent human rights lawyer Abdulmajeed Sabra on social media using the hashtag: #Freedom_For_Abdulmajeed_Sabra