Yemeni Parliament speaker Sheikh Abdullah al-Ahmar stated that hundreds, if not thousands, of people have been unfairly detained in the country since last September's attacks in the United States.
"People detained in Yemen since these attacks number in their hundreds, maybe thousands," Ahmar, who heads the opposition Islamist Al-Islah Party, told Al-Hayat daily.
"I think that these people are held unfairly. It is normal that the government took steps after what happened in America, but they must be logical and legal," he said, calling for the release of those held.
Ahmar commented that the United States was "convinced that Yemen harbors no al-Qaeda element. They are maybe worried about an infiltration into Yemeni territory by sought or suspect elements, a concern we share." But Yemen will "not deliver to America any Yemeni citizen," he said, emphasizing that anyone facing charges would be tried according to the laws of the country. (Albawaba.com)
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