Yemen: Before discussing new prisoner deals, implement previous ones

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
4 Jan 2024 13:07
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The head of the National Committee for Prisoners' Affairs, Abdul Qadir Al-Murtada, says there is no point in "accumulating agreements" and conditions for future deals on implementation of formerly agreed-upon deals.

An undated image of the head of the National Committee for Prisoners' Affairs, Abdul Qadir al-Murtada. (SABA news agency)

The Head of the Prisoners' Committee in the Sanaa government, Abdul Qadir al-Murtada, confirmed that Sanaa has no objection to attending any round of negotiations regarding the prisoners' issue if it obtains guarantees, from the United Nations, regarding the implementation of clauses of previously approved agreements.

Al-Murtada pointed out that "accumulating agreements without implementation, as is happening on the part of the mercenaries, only complicates the issue and increases the suffering of the prisoners on both sides."

Sanaa's position comes the day after the Saudi-appointed government announced the indefinite postponement of a new round of negotiations regarding prisoners and detainees, which was scheduled to be held in Jordan this week.

Prisoner exchange deal in 'deadlock'

Earlier, in October, the government of Sanaa expressed its readiness to release Saudi and Sudanese detainees who had been fighting alongside the Saudi-led coalition forces.

Sanaa has stipulated that the release be part of a prisoner exchange deal that includes the coalition-appointed Yemeni government, adding that the Saudi-led coalition is not serious about finalizing such a deal.

Al-Murtada stated at the time that the "prisoner exchange deal signed in Switzerland is in a state of deadlock due to the lack of seriousness from the coalition of aggression," as quoted by the Yemeni Al-Masirah TV.

Al-Murtada confirmed that Sanaa has agreed to a key demand of the Saudi-backed "Marib forces", which is to reveal the fate of the Islah Party leader Mohammad Qahtan and include him in a future deal. However, Sanaa's request to disclose the fate of its prisoners or allow officials to visit Marib's prisons was rebuffed.