The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) is extremely concerned at the continuous threats received by human rights defender Khaled Ayish after an assassination attempt made on his live. Khaled Ayish is the president of the National Forum for Human Rights in Yemen which is based in Al-Hudaydah, the fourth largest city in Yemen.

On 20 February 2013, at approximately 1.00pm, while driving his car in the Kilo 7 area of Al-Hudaydah, Ayish herd a big explosion coming in his car. He managed to control his car, parked and then discovered that all four tyres had exploded. After preliminary investigation it was proved that the four tyres were filled with cooking gas. It is believed that only the security forces has the ability and power to do this in particular after Khaled Ayish continues to get threats from sources within the state security demanding that he stops working on human rights.

The human rights defender Khaled Ayish told GCHR “The continuing threats after the assassination attempt would not be deterred me from doing my human rights work.” adding by saying “I will complete my documentation of the human rights violations committed in Yemen by the security forces, influential people, and armed groups.”

The GCHR believes  that the attempt on Khaled Ayish’ live  and the continuous threats are related to his peaceful and legitimate human rights activities in Yemen, specifically in documenting the massive human rights violations, such as extrajudicial killings and disappearances. The GCHR continues to be very concerned for the safety of Khaled Ayish and calls on the Government of Yemen to immediately stop targeting him.

The GCHR calls on the government of Yemen to:

• Take all necessary measures to ensure the physical and psychological integrity and security of human rights defender Khaled Ayish;
• Ensure the ability of human rights defenders, activists, and journalists in Yemen to carry out their legitimate work freely and without fear of reprisal or judicial harassment.

The 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, recognises 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 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, which provides that “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”.