A day after Abdul Ilah Haydar Shae. Yemen's most famous investigative journalist was released from prison, three years into his five years sentence, Amnesty International issued a statement in which it urges the Yemeni government to open a probe on allegations of abuse against him.
Philip Luther, Amnesty International's Director for the Middle East and North Africa said, "Intense political pressure applied by the USA appeared to be a blatant attempt to override the judicial process in another country."
He went on demanding "the Yemeni authorities to investigate allegations of serious irregularities in the case of the investigative journalist Abdul Ilah Haydar Shaye."
It is important to note that while Shaye was freed he will de facto remain under virtual house arrest as the state will continue to monitor and control his movement for the next two years, in keeping with the court five years sentencing.
Shaye was charged and convicted for promoting terrorism, allegations he has always strongly rejected.
Ever since Shaye's arrest in 2010, Amnesty International has often taken to the press to denounce wrongdoings, alleging the Yemeni government had violated Shaye's constitutional and human rights to serve a political agenda.
Amnesty wrote in its statement, "In 2010 Shaye was arrested and in early 2011 sentenced to five years in prison for having links to al-Qaeda, despite a lack of clear evidence of such links. There are allegations that he was ill-treated in detention, resulting in chest injuries and a broken tooth. If his detention is confirmed as having been arbitrary ... He should be compensated and his two-year travel ban lifted."
No content to see him free, the right group wants to see justice serve; starting with the reports which got Shaye to be sent in prison in the first place.
Shaye exposed in 2009 then-President Ali Abdullah Saleh's military cover up operation in Majalla. While the government affirmed it was its military which conducted a anti-terror air raid against the village of Majalla, Shaye proved, forensic evidences in hands that Washington had instead planned and carried the attack, thus violating Yemen's air space and territorial sovereignty.
It was Shaye's determination to uncover the truth which land him in prison, having become a liability on the eyes of the Yemeni government and its American ally.
“Abdul Ilah Haydar Shaye appeared to be a prisoner of conscience, imprisoned solely for his legitimate work as a journalist. Having released him, the Yemeni authorities must now conduct an independent and impartial investigation into the 2009 attack which he helped expose," said Luther.
He added, making a clear reference to America's meddling, “Both the Yemeni and US authorities have some serious questions to answer regarding this case. His allegations of ill-treatment must also be investigated.
Intense political pressure applied by the USA appeared to be a blatant attempt to override the judicial process in another country.
We reiterate our calls on the Yemeni and US governments to reveal the truth about the incident that is at the heart of the actions taken against this investigative journalist - namely who was responsible for the deaths of dozens of residents in the cluster bomb attack.”