Beirut, 28 April, 2012 —  The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) has received information that on 24 April 2012, human rights defender and photographer Wael Al-Absi was assaulted by a member of the security committee as he was taking photos of the protests at Liberty square in the city of Taiz.

Wael Al-Absi, is an activist and a photographer based in the city of Taiz. He documents protests and human rights violations carried out by state authorities against peaceful protestors.

On 24 April 2012, while he was documenting the protests at the Liberty Square, the main square of youth protests, he was assaulted by a member of the security committee, who was accompanied by two armed men. Wael Al-Absi was hit in the head with a blunt object and was taken to hospital as a result of the assault.

“This brutal attack means the absence of the rule of law in Yemen and the government’s failure to protect citizens.” Said Nabeel Rajab, director of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, he added by saying “The Yemeni government has to bring the perpetrators to justice and to provide the necessary protection for all human rights defenders.”

The GCHR expresses serious concern over the assault of Wael Al-Absi particularly in light of the fact that the role of the security committee is to ensure the security of those protesting and not endanger them. The GCHR believes that the assault of Wael Al –Absi  is directly related to his legitimate human rights activities and documenting of peaceful protests in the city of Taiz.

The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) urges the authorities in Yemen to:

1. Carry out an immediate, thorough and independent investigation into the assault of Wael Al-Absi with a view of publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in line with international standards;
2. Ensure that the right to peaceful assembly is protected and guaranteed;
3. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of Wael Al-Absi;
4. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Yemen are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment. 

GCHR respectfully reminds you that the United Nations Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognizes the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out their activities without fear of reprisals. We would particularly draw your attention to Article 5 (c): “For the purpose of promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, at the national and international levels: (c) To communicate with non-governmental or intergovernmental organizations ”, Article 6 (c): “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: (c) To study, discuss, form and hold opinions on the observance, both in law and in practice, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, through these and other appropriate means, to draw public attention to those matters” and to Article 12 (2): “The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration

 The Gulf Centre for Human Rights is an independent centre and has been registered in Ireland. The Centre works to strengthen support for human rights defenders and independent journalists in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.