The National Prisoner Foundation Statement on the occasion of the Yemeni Prisoner Day 1441

Friday 8th of Ramadan coincides with the anniversary of the Yemeni prisoner’s day, which was announced by the political leadership in 2016, to remind with the suffering of prisoners and their families, and the need to mobilize official and societal efforts to alleviate the suffering of this forgotten segment behind bars.
This anniversary of the year 1441 comes in conjunction with the spread of the Corona pandemic, which threatens the entire world, including our beloved country.
In this regard, the National Prisoner Foundation stresses the need to alleviate prison overcrowding by releasing insolvent prisoners and issuing a general or conditional amnesty for prisoners as decided by the competent authorities; with the exception of the owners of criminal offenses or those related to the threat to state security, due to prisons are the most dangerous places Vulnerable to the epidemic.
The Foundation reaffirms that the release of prisoners is an important step in fighting Corona, especially as long as the prisoner is not considered a threat to the security and safety of society, due to the presence of prisoners in crowded numbers is a danger to them, and to the employees, workers, and security staff that oversee them, which is a humanitarian step and a call for societal reconciliation and peace in Yemen in general.
The Foundation calls on the competent authorities, and local and international organizations, to cooperate in providing the necessary supplies for the prevention of the Corona epidemic within Correctional Facilities and Detention Centers, such as disinfectants, sanitzers, etc., and to implement the necessary projects for that.
The Foundation considers this anniversary as an important annual occasion to build bridges of communication with insolvent prisoners, and to communicate their message, which they cannot deliver from behind bars, to draw the attention of the public opinion of this absent segment behind the prisons, as they are an integral part of society.
It appreciates the great role played by the Chamber of Commerce during the past few days through the release of 35 insolvent prisoners in seven Yemeni Governorates, after it paid the amounts of money amounting to them at a total cost of 25 million Riyals, through the National Prisoner Foundation, and in partnership with the relevant competent authorities .
The National Prisoner Foundation stresses the need to implement the national vision launched by the political leadership, specifically with regard to the conditions of Correctional Facilities and care for male and female inmates in all prisons and Detention Centers, and to ensure the humanization of prisons, and to give the prisoner all the human rights assigned to him or her by the Constitution and the law.
The Foundation calls for the necessity of concerted official and popular efforts to take care of the conditions of prisoners and upgrade Detention Centers, from all aspects that serve to improve the reality of prisons and various Correctional Facilities, especially in light of the Corona epidemic.
The Foundation praised the great role that the competent authorities play in cooperating with the Foundation in implementing its humanitarian projects inside prisons … calling for more cooperation and partnership, which contributes to improving the conditions of prisoners and meeting their basic needs.

Issued by the National Prisoner Foundation
Sana’a – Friday – Ramadan 8th – 1441