Yemen man dies 2 days after leaving Houthi prison

Detainees are being released at Central Prison in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, on 30 September, 2019 [Mohammed Hamoud/Anadolu Agency]

A young Yemeni man who was kidnapped by Houthi rebels in the capital of Sanaa has died only two days after leaving prison, Al-Masdar Online news site reported.

Sources in Sanaa told the news site that Abdullah Abbad, from Al-Siyani district in Ibb Governorate, died on Friday in his home in Sanaa, only two days after being released from the Houthi prison.

Deaths in Yemen Conflict – Cartoon [Sarwar Ahmed/MiddleEastMonitor]

The sources suggested that the young man’s sudden and mysterious death was caused by the torture and abuse he suffered while in prison.

Yemen Shabab news site reported that Abbad had worked as an artist and photographer. According to the news site, the Houthi militia kidnapped Abbad a month ago, on charges of distributing published material of the Saudi-led Arab coalition.

READ: Abductee dies under torture in Houthi prison

Meanwhile, Abbad’s family disclosed that they had not heard anything about him since his abduction, nor of his whereabouts, until he was released two days ago. The family confirmed the young man was in poor health on his return, while his body had signs of torture.

According to human rights reports, dozens of Yemenis have died while held in prisons run by Houthi militias or shortly after being released as a result of torture.

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