Campaign: Their Ramadan with Their Families

In the holy month of Ramadan, Yemeni families feel deep sadness due to the absence of loved ones who cannot join them for iftar and suhoor meals, night gatherings, and spiritual practices. These loved ones, who may be fathers, husbands, brothers, sons, relatives, or friends, are swallowed up by the prisons of warring parties and their affiliated security and militia personnel in various parts of the country. The reasons for their imprisonment are often malicious and have political, ideological, and/or regional implications. Many of the forcibly disappeared individuals are real victims of the chaos caused by the fighting and the absence of the rule of law, which have been themselves a result of the absence of the state.Hundreds of forcibly disappeared and arbitrarily detained civilians have been missing for several years, with no certainty for their families as to whether they are still alive or have been killed through torture or execution. Many of them are being held in illegal detention centers scattered throughout different regions, beyond the authority of the law, principles of justice, and even the minimum customary human ethical values. They are subjected to the most heinous forms of torture, abuse, and psychological oppression by their captors.At the beginning of each Ramadan, Mwatana for Human Rights launches a campaign called "Their Ramadan with Their Families," which aims to shed light on the suffering of those who are arbitrarily detained and forcibly disappeared, the injustice they face, as well as the suffering of their families who are caught in the middle of the conflict with their breadwinners being held detained. In addition, these families also endure long periods of false promises from the warring parties, waiting and longing for their loved ones to return.The campaign will continue throughout the month of Ramadan. During this time, a range of visual materials will be published. These materials will focus on the personal identities of victims of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance in the dungeons of various groups of parties to the conflict, including the Ansar Allah armed group (Houthis), the UAE-backed armed groups, specifically the Southern Transitional Council forces and the Joint Forces, as well as the forces and groups of the internationally recognized government, including groups affiliated with the Islah Party.At the start of this campaign, Mwatana reminds the leaders of all parties involved in the conflict to simply consider how they can sit at the Suhoor and iftar tables with their children without feeling any guilt, while there are individuals and families suffering greatly under their responsibilities. These individuals and families are living in a state of constant waiting. The campaign serves as a reminder of the remaining human conscience of individuals and groups of the various parties to the conflict in this country and their leaders, aiming to evoke a sense of prick of conscience or agony towards those who are suffering because of their actions.Do the hearts of the warlords not ache as they enjoy spending the days of this blessed month with their children and families, while there are others who are forcibly languishing in their secret and public prisons? Their families are yearning for their presence during this month of compassion.