UAE-Run Secret Prisons in Yemen Exposed by BBC Investigation
A BBC investigation revealed the existence of secret prisons run by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and forces allied to it in Yemen, confirming long-standing allegations of human rights abuses amidst the country's decade-long civil war. The investigation, which granted the BBC access to detention facilities on former UAE military bases in Yemen, uncovered evidence of abuse and raised concerns about the fracturing alliance between the UAE and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.
The BBC's Senior International Investigations Correspondent, Nawal Al-Maghafi, reported seeing cells at two bases in southern Yemen. One site contained shipping containers with little ventilation, where detainees reported being held with up to 60 men, according to the BBC. Names and dates were scratched onto the containers, apparently by detainees.
One former detainee told the BBC he had been beaten and sexually abused at one of the sites. The investigation highlighted the broader geopolitical dynamics of the conflict, where regional powers are vying for influence in a country already devastated by years of war and humanitarian crisis.
The revelations come at a sensitive time, as the alliance between the UAE and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government shows signs of strain. The findings shed light on the complex situation in Yemen, where regional powers are competing for influence in a country already suffering from years of war and a severe humanitarian crisis. The BBC's report raises serious questions about human rights violations in the region and adds a new layer of complexity to the ongoing conflict.
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