Two years after President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi failed to deliver on his promise to release all of Yemen’s revolutionaries from prisoners, where they have been held since 2011 on account gave in to they allegedly disrupted peace or gave in to criminal activities, activists are determined to make their express their frustration.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets on Friday, intent on reminding state officials that none of them had forgotten the power of the plebe when united to a common cause. Strong in their numbers and resolve to see justice prevail, Yemenis once again waiting until after the Friday afternoon prayer to march the streets of Sana’a, demanding for all political prisoners to be set free without further delay.
Such renewed political activism comes amid calls from Amnesty International to strip former President Ali Abdullah Saleh from his immunity blanket. When former President Saleh agreed to step down from the presidency in late 2011 in favour of his then-deputy, Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi, it was agreed Saleh, his family and senior aides would benefit from an extensive immunity cover, ensuring that they would never be hold accountable or force to answer to any of their actions while in power to any person, legal body or organization.
While many officials have argued since then that such concession had been necessary as to prevent the country from slipping into a full blown civil war, activists have always warned they would work to overturn the bill. Such refusal to recognize the legality or even legitimacy of such immunity has found a strong echo across international rights organizations, namely Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
"The immunity law is totally unacceptable and must be revoked immediately. Effectively it allows anyone guilty of human rights violations associated with the previous government to walk free," said Philip Luther, Amnesty International's director for the Middle East and North Africa.
Protesters on Friday could be heard calling for the trial of former President Saleh and his aides.