His Family’s Efforts Led to Dead Ends

Moataz Al-Shujaifi, a 25-year-old man in the prime of his youth, had ambitions that reached the sky. He used to have a job and a normal life, but one evening he left his house and never returned.With sadness, pain, and bitterness, Mazen (40 years old) recounts the details of his brother's disappearance, saying:“My brother Moataz holds a bachelor's degree in graphics and was an employee of Mass Advertising Company. In February 2020, around 8:00 pm, Moataz and I had been at home before he left for an unknown destination. When I asked him where he was going, he assured me he would return. He left his mobile phone behind as its battery had died.I thought he was going to the market to buy some necessities, as he intended to travel to the city of Taiz to visit our mother whom he had been unable to see due to the war and siege on the city. Therefore, he spent at least two days before his disappearance planning the trip to see her.We waited until late at night for Moataz to return, but he never did. I felt fear and anxiety for him, especially since we were living in a state of insecurity with the ongoing war. In order to reassure myself, I considered the possibility that he might have been unable to wait to see our mother and decided to travel towards the city of Taiz.I couldn't sleep and kept hoping that he was safe and that no harm had befallen him. Those were long hours of worrying and waiting. I never imagined that I would never see him again, especially since he was a peaceful civilian with no affiliation to any of the parties involved in the war.Since it was already late that night and I needed more time to gather my thoughts, I didn't want to bother my mother by asking about my brother, assuming that he would return. The next morning, I called my mother hoping to hear from her that he had arrived there. However, I was shocked when she told me that she had not seen him for more than two months since he had returned to work in Al-Hawban. Additionally, she said that she had tried to contact him, but to no avail.Then, I stammered on the phone with her, not knowing what to say. I tried to reassure her that he would be fine and might have been with one of his friends. After the call, I went straight to the Public Prosecution Office and filed a report of his disappearance. The report was then forwarded to the Director of Criminal Investigation Department to take necessary action.I met with the Director of Criminal Investigation and provided him with all the details of my brother's disappearance. He promised to search for him and follow up on the case. As we continued to follow up on the case, the Director of Criminal Investigation Department informed us that they had searched for my brother at police stations and prisons, including the detention center in Al-Saleh City, but found no trace of him. However, he promised to reach out to a number of security directorates in Taiz to gather any information about him. He also promised to circulate a picture of my brother in those directorates to widen the search process.My concerns and worries for my brother increased, and I felt that the world had darkened in my eyes, as well as my siblings and mother, whose tears had not stopped flowing since that night. Every moment of waiting, I spent recalling my conversations with him, hoping to find a clue that could guide me to his whereabouts. However, all my efforts led to dead ends.Moataz was a bright and computer-savvy young man who excelled in his work despite his youth. I made frequent visits to the Criminal Investigation Department and, sometimes, contacted them by phone to stay updated on any developments regarding his disappearance. During my close follow-up with some of the leaders associated with the Ansar Allah group (Houthis), one of them (who refused to reveal his name) informed me that my brother Moataz was being held in Al-Saleh City and demanded a sum of money in exchange for allowing me to speak with him over the phone. He promised that he would facilitate communication between me and my brother as soon as the opportunity presented itself, provided I paid him the requested amount.Hope returned to my heart as my family grieved the disappearance of my brother, and there was a chance to hear his voice again. However, that hope was soon dashed when the person who claimed to have information turned off his phone, leaving us back in a state of despair. We searched tirelessly for Moataz, leaving no stone unturned. Along the way, we encountered many false stories about my brother, many of which were attempts to blackmail us or play with our emotions.We are tired and exhausted, and we are desperately searching for a glimmer of hope. My mother has been devastated by this disappearance. She never loses hope of finding Moataz, and her tears have not stopped for three years. Her sight has weakened due to her grief for Moataz, especially since he is the youngest and most beloved of her children. Whenever she hears stories of people who have been detained or tortured, it reminds her of Moataz and she breaks down in tears.My mother has not lost hope; her trust in God is strong and increases every day that my brother will see the light one day and return to her bosom and to his family, who lost the meaning of joy in his absence. Whenever there is an occasion for joy, it quickly disappears behind the suffering and agony we endure, the pain that never fades. We are exhausted and tired, searching for a thread of hope. When will the days finally smile upon us?!!