NCIAVHR Visits the Political Security, Military Intelligence, and Police in Taiz

Taiz | July 8, 2024

Today, the National Commission to Investigate Alleged Violations of Human Rights (NCIAVHR) conducted a field visit to several detention centers under the Military Intelligence in Taiz, the Political Security Branch, and the Provincial Police Department to inspect and evaluate the services provided to detainees.

The Commission team, led by Judge Ishraq Al-Maqtari, listened to dozens of war-related detainees at the Military Intelligence headquarters, documenting their demands concerning social and civil rights and assessing their health and nutritional conditions, by international conventions and national laws.

During the visit, Brigadier General Abdu Qasim Al-Buhairi, head of the Military Intelligence Division in Taiz, provided recommendations and observations on the urgent humanitarian needs of the facility’s inmates.

As part of their field visit program, the Commission’s team also visited the Political Security Branch in Taiz to review the legal status of several detainees. They met with the branch director, Brigadier General Abdulwahid Sarhan, discussing key cases under the Commission’s investigation, listening to responses and comments from the branch, and reviewing the procedures taken by the administration and judicial authorities.

In evaluating the Taiz Provincial Police Department’s procedures related to maintaining security and freedom of movement following the partial lifting of the siege and the opening of the Al-Hawban Palace roundabout, the Commission visited the department’s detention center. They inspected the center and met with several detainees before their referral to judicial and law enforcement authorities.

The Commission also met with the deputy director of Taiz Police, Colonel Anis Al-Shamiri, who emphasized the importance of the Commission’s direct and preliminary follow-ups to ensure broader guarantees of the rights of Taiz residents to security and safety, and to reduce instances of deprivation of freedom.

Colonel Al-Shamiri highlighted the Taiz Police’s commitment to the legality and appropriateness of its procedures to protect the lives, safety, security, and dignity of the city’s residents and visitors from other governorates. He noted the high influx into the city following the opening of the eastern road, which saw more than 38,500 cars and buses entering over the past two weeks.