Yemeni journalist missing since 2015
On the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, groups demanded Yemen disclose the fate of journalist Waheed al-Sufi, abducted in 2015.
Press freedom and human rights organizations have demanded all parties to Yemen's conflict immediately cease using enforced disappearance against journalists. The call, issued on the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, specifically seeks urgent answers on the fate of journalist Waheed al-Sufi, who vanished in April 2015.
Al-Sufi was the editor-in-chief of the independent Yemeni newspaper and website Al-Arabiya. He was abducted from Sanaa, a city controlled by the Houthi rebel group. He has never been brought before a judicial authority, and no charges have ever been filed.
A gateway to further violations
In a joint statement, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and partner groups warned that enforced disappearance often precedes more severe abuses. These include killings, torture, and ill-treatment. The statement cited specific cases to illustrate this pattern, such as the killing of journalist Mohammed al-Maqri, who was abducted in 2015 and executed by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) on December 28, 2024. Another journalist, Naseh Shaker, was abducted from Aden in 2023 and forcibly disappeared for nearly a year before it emerged he had suffered detention, torture, and cruel and degrading treatment.
The mechanism of impunity
The organizations directed their demands at all conflict parties and the de facto authorities in Yemen. They called for an immediate end to the practice of incommunicado detention alongside enforced disappearances. The CPJ-led coalition emphasized the urgent need for transparency regarding Waheed al-Sufi's whereabouts and condition.
A broader assault on rights
Enforced disappearance creates a state of legal limbo, shielding perpetrators from accountability. By denying a detainee access to legal counsel or judicial review, authorities circumvent fundamental due process rights. This mechanism effectively silences critical voices through fear and uncertainty.
The case highlights a broader assault on civil and political rights within the conflict zone. Journalists working in Yemen face extreme risks simply for performing their duties. The international covenant on civil and political rights, which guarantees protections against arbitrary detention, is being systematically violated.
No group has claimed responsibility for al-Sufi's abduction. His family has endured over nine years of uncertainty regarding his fate. The demand for answers coincides with a global day of recognition for all victims of this clandestine practice.
The statement serves as a formal appeal to both state and non-state actors controlling Yemeni territory. It frames the disappearance not as an isolated incident but as part of a documented pattern of repression. Concrete details, like the execution date of Mohammed al-Maqri, anchor the appeal in verified tragedy.
