An investigation committee issues its report on the death of prisoner Rashid Al-Hatam in the Political Security Prison in Marib

The committee investigating the death of prisoner Rashid Alawi Issa Al-Hatam announced today, Saturday, the results of its investigation into the incident that occurred in the Political Security Prison in Ma'rib Governorate, northeastern Yemen.

The committee said in a statement that on January 26, 2025, the deceased committed suicide inside his solitary confinement cell, where he used the Western bathroom and the iron protruding from the wall to reach the window, and tied pieces of the blanket and sheet to make a rope that he used for hanging.

The statement added that forensic and forensic reports confirmed that the cause of death was suffocation resulting from hanging, without any signs of torture or other injuries.

He pointed out that no incidents of ill-treatment or torture of the aforementioned person were proven during his detention, and these are the convictions of all members of the committee, including the relatives of the deceased who participated in the investigation.

He stressed that after collecting evidence, following it up in the field and linking the details, the investigation team found that there was no suspicion of a breach or violation of the governing laws in the incident, and that what was being circulated by suspicious parties had no connection to reality.

The committee also confirmed that the investigation was conducted according to transparent and objective procedures, in the presence of representatives from various security agencies, Qifa sheikhs, and representatives of the deceased’s relatives, expressing its hope that these results would contribute to reassuring public opinion and putting an end to the political and media exploitation of this incident.

The media was called upon to exercise caution and accuracy in transmitting news, to rely on official sources, and not to be drawn into malicious rumours that aim to destabilise security and stability in Ma'rib Governorate.

press release:

On the results of the investigation into the death of prisoner Rashid Alawi Issa Al-Hatam

1. Based on the directives of the Vice President of the Presidential Leadership Council, Governor of Ma'rib Governorate and Head of the Local Council, a committee was formed to investigate the death of prisoner Rashid Alawi Issa Al-Hatam, headed by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior. The committee included the Undersecretary of Al Bayda Governorate for Rada'a Affairs, the Director of Criminal Investigation in the Governorate, the Deputy Director of Al Bayda Governorate Security, the Deputy Head of the Military Intelligence Division, and Sheikh Qaed Muqbil Al-Hatam. After completing the investigations, the committee announces its results as follows:

*First: Investigation procedures*

2. The committee took a series of measures to reach the truth, including:

3. Hold meetings and determine a clear mechanism for investigation.

4. Listening to officials in the Political Security Branch about the circumstances of the incident.

5. Interview the Deputy Head of the Political Security Branch to complete the information.

6. Review the case file, including the minutes and initial reports related to the incident.

7. Review the minutes of the Appeal Prosecution regarding the incident.

8. Inspection of the deceased's cell.

9. Going to the hospital morgue to examine the body in the presence of one of his brothers and three of his relatives.

10. Review the forensic evidence report.

11. Taking statements from those in charge of the Political Security prison regarding detention conditions.

12. Hearing the testimonies of prisoners who were detained with the deceased, including one of those released and three other prisoners.

13. Conducting a forensic examination of the body upon the request of the blood relatives.

*Second: Summary of events and investigation results*

14. On January 15, 2025, the deceased and others chanted the Houthi cry, and the clip was published in a live broadcast on his Facebook account.

15. The security services tracked him down and convinced him to surrender himself, and he was arrested along with eight other workers.

16. When he entered prison, he did not suffer from any apparent physical illnesses, according to the statements of prisoners and officials.

17. Some of the prisoners close to him noticed that he was suffering from psychological disorders, as he would stay up all night.

18. On January 26, 2025, the deceased committed suicide in his solitary confinement cell, where he used the Western bathroom and the iron protruding from the wall to reach the window, and tied pieces of the blanket and sheet to make a rope that he used for hanging.

19. Forensic and forensic reports confirmed that the cause of death was suffocation resulting from hanging, without any signs of torture or other injuries.

20. No incidents of ill-treatment or torture of the aforementioned person have been proven during his detention, and this is the conviction of all members of the committee, including the relatives of the deceased who participated in the investigation.

21. Based on all of the above, and given the great social, economic, political and military weight that Ma'rib Governorate represents, which has made it the front line of events, and the massive and organized attacks that the governorate has been subjected to are no secret to everyone, starting with focusing military attacks and destabilizing security and stability in various ways to undermine it and its steadfastness. Among the most dangerous of these methods is what the governorate is currently being subjected to: exploiting purely security issues and presenting them in the media through suspicious and organized platforms, in a highly professional manner, with the aim of creating an atmosphere of instability and spreading division among the broad spectrum that has sought refuge in this safe and stable governorate. Recently, an increase in these campaigns has been observed, and the use of the method of inciting tribal strife for every incidental security event, exaggerating it and directing it in a dangerous way that strikes the foundation of the social fabric in it, and depends on distorting it in the media and destroying the good reputation that has been drawn in the minds of the Yemeni people.

22. The unfortunate incident that recently occurred at the Political Security Branch was the suicide of a prisoner in custody who was caught red-handed violating the law. A high-level legal and security team has been formed, under direct instructions from the top of the state, to uncover the circumstances of the unfortunate incident.

23. After collecting evidence, following it up in the field, and linking the details, the team found that there was no suspicion of a breach or violation of the governing laws in the incident, and that what was being circulated by suspicious parties had no connection to reality.

24. Ma'rib Governorate is the foundation of building the desired state of law, for which thousands of martyrs and wounded heroes have sacrificed their lives. The state's agencies have taken the legal path and emphasized this path strictly, without compromise or discussion, which has made the suspicious parties that follow the Houthi militia and those who support it secretly and openly redouble their efforts to create confusion and controversy, in order to find a loophole to drown it in chaos, which is a dream for the Houthi militia after the failure of its attempts during the past years.

25. It is necessary to note here that there is no government security, military or service institution in Ma'rib Governorate outside the framework of the law, and it strives to include imposing the prestige of the law on everyone.

*Finally*

The Committee affirms that the investigation was conducted according to transparent and objective procedures, in the presence of representatives from various security agencies, sheikhs of Qifa, and representatives of the deceased’s relatives. The Committee hopes that these results will contribute to reassuring public opinion and putting an end to the political and media exploitation of this incident. It calls on the media to exercise caution and accuracy in reporting news, to rely on official sources, and not to be drawn into malicious rumors that aim to destabilize security and stability in Ma’rib Governorate.

*Issued by the Investigation Committee, February 22, 2025*