Dubai: Lawyer and human rights activist Khalid Al Anesi was arrested in Yemen as he was defending detained activist Tawakul Karman.
Anesi was arrested as he was trying to meet the attorney general along with a number of human rights activists to explain that the arrest of Karman was illegal and an open violation of the Yemeni constitution, according to English daily, Yemen Post
Security forces approached him and asked if they can talk to him, when they suddenly attacked him and sent him to prison. Human rights activist Ali Dailami was also arrested, along with many of those who were with them.
Anesi’s wife and human rights activist Kawkab Thaibani told Yemen Post that she visited her husband in prison earlier and mentioned that he was in high spirits and confident that justice would prevail. “
I saw over twenty activists and protesters sitting in prison with him, but they are there for a cause”, she said.
Anesi is a well known human rights activist and founder of HOOD a Human Rights Organisation for which he has held the position of executive director for more than 10 years.
On the other hand, Tawakul Karman was released Monday morning according to reports, after she was arrested on charges of organising illegal rallies in Sana'a.
Kerman had led last week's marches in support of the change in Tunisia, and calling for change in Yemen.
A security official said the arrest stemmed from a warrant issued by prosecutors, on charges of having planning and leading marches which are unauthoriaed by law, undermining public security.
Tawakul Karman, a member of the central committee of the opposition Islamist Al Islah (Reform) party, has been involved in Sana'a demonstrations supporting the popular revolt in Tunisia which ousted Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Bin Ali.
The government is expected to continue random imprisonment, as speculations prevail that Yemen will be the next Tunisia. Protests have continued in Sana’a for eight consecutive days and are still expected to continue.
