Citizen remains in detention over dispute with security authorities [Archives:2007/1053/Local News]
SANA'A, May 23 ) Shaif Al-Haimi, a citizen from Sana'a city, has been detained by security authorities at the Central Prison in Sana'a for more than two weeks, awaiting his trial at the Specialized Penal Court scheduled on May 29.
Security authorities arrested Al-Haimi on May 10 on charges of theft and practicing vice. Before that he was detained at the national security, and he got his two hands paralysed and his left foot immobilized as he was tortured. He said that officers threatened to try him with charges of homosexuality and torture his family in case he disclosed the goings-on at the detention.
The National Organization for Defending Rights and Freedoms, a local NGO known as HOOD, said the Penal Court is illegal and goes counter to the constitution. Further, local newspapers reported Al-Haimi's case and disclosed his ordeal while in detention.
Al-Haimi's brother, Noor-Addin, told newsyemen.net, a local news website, that his brother was re-arrested two weeks ago due to ' clamour caused by media over reporting his case'. Moreover, he denied the charges levelled by security authorities at his brother, saying that “My brother