Yemen has formed a committee which will travel to inspect the conditions of the Yemeni prisoners abroad, said Horia Mashhour, Human Rights Minister on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Muhammad Salim Basindwa has agreed that the committee visits the Yemeni prisoners in the US Guantanamo jail and in Iraq, she said, pointing out that the committee will start its job soon.
The statement was made at the meeting of the committee in charge with following up the situation of the Yemeni prisoners abroad that was dedicated to discussing their issues including how to release them as soon as possible.
Mashhour urged the committee to do its job as stated and report on the mission to the Yemeni authorities as she stressed the importance to finalize all procedures for its visit.
The committee comprises of the ministries of Human Rights, Justice, Interior and Foreign Affairs and the National Organization for Defending Human Rights and Freedoms HOOD and the National Security System.
Yemenis account for about half of the remaining Guantanamo bay prisoners and the US authorities are afraid if they are released, they could regroup and target US interests inside and outside Yemen.
Few years ago, the US released tens of the Yemeni inmates there including former driver of Osama Bin Laden. It sought to release the others but fears of the inability of the Yemeni government to rehabilitate them was a key reasons to keep them inside the largely criticized prison.
In Iraq, there are about 25 Yemenis inside prisons who were held by Iraqi and US forces after they entered to fight foreign troops that invaded Iraq in 2003.