الخضر
More than nine years of disappearance
At the beginning of 2011, Ansar al-Sharia, the local armed wing of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), took control of parts of Abyan governorate and started mobilizing efforts to exercise de facto authority. However, the consequences of its policies were disastrous.Al-Khader Thaer Abdullah Al-Jaadi (16 years old), from Abyan Governorate, had his life changed in 2014 when he was going about his normal routine at the Qat market. He was detained in front of other people by armed men who arrived in a military pickup truck that belonged to Ansar Al-Sharia. He was then transported to the Ahwar district in the eastern part of the governorate.After his detention, Al-Khader's family searched for him and tried to find out where he was being held and what charges were being brought against him. However, the organization's leaders refused to provide any assistance and refused to disclose any information about his fate. Every time the family went back home, they were left saddened and broken. As the days passed, despair began to set in, and eventually, they gave up hope.Al-Khader had been missing for eight months, and rumors were circulating that he had been detained on charges of placing tracking chips on drones to target armed groups. One day, while Al-Khader's uncle was on his farm, two unknown individuals dressed as Ansar Al-Sharia members and carrying weapons approached him.The uncle was frightened and sensed that something ominous was about to happen. Confusion was evident on his face. The individuals asked if he was Al-Khader's maternal uncle, and he confirmed that he was. When he inquired about his sister's son, they informed him that they had him and had come to the farm as per the victim's request to meet his uncle.The uncle stood silently, unsure of what to do, but he eventually surrendered to them and accompanied them to the Lawdar District. Upon arrival, they took him to one of their headquarters. Shortly after, they brought in Al-Khader, who was handcuffed and had his legs and neck restrained. They forced him to record a video on his mobile phone, stating that he was fine and not suffering from any harm.After completing the video recording, they handed it over to the victim's uncle and took him back to his farm, instructing him to deliver it to the Al-Khader’s family, which he did.A few days later, two individuals (Mwatana is withholding the name of one of them) visited Al-Khader's family and began questioning his mother and older sister about the whereabouts of the targeting chips. When the mother and sister denied having any knowledge of what they were talking about, the individuals became angry and accused them of being complicit with Al-Khader. This further heightened the fear and anxiety of the family, and the individuals eventually left.Al-Khader remains forcibly disappeared to this day, and nobody knows his whereabouts or his fate. This story may appear short and straightforward, but it reflects the harsh reality faced by Yemenis in the presence of armed groups, their pre-fabricated accusations, and inhumane practices, and most of all, the absence of a state of law and order.
