A Yemeni humanitarian worker whose detention highlighted the intimidation and torture of activists by Houthi rebels was freed on Saturday, the UN said.
Awfa Al Naami, the country manager for Saferworld, a UK-based organisation helping people in conflict zones, was summoned for questioning at the Houthi national security office in Sanaa on January 28 and had not been heard from since.
"The Special Envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, urged Awfa's release during his last trip to Sanaa where he met with Houthi leaders," a UN official told The National. "She is now reunited with her family."
Yemeni lawyers and activists also campaigned for Ms Al Naami's release and have called for an end to the rebels' intimidation campaign.
“This is only a small part of what Yemen’s civil society is facing on the ground. This important space shrinking every day is what makes Yemen even darker,” said Radhya Almutawakel, co-founder of Mwatana Organisation for Human Rights, a Yemeni NGO.
Ms Al Naami's detention was only the latest in a series of atrocities committed by the Houthis, according to Amnesty International. Throughout the conflict in Yemen, human-rights defenders and journalists have been harassed, threatened, beaten, arbitrarily detained and forcibly disappeared, the rights group said.
Yemen’s former human rights minister Hooria Mashour welcomed Ms Al Naami's release and called for the rebels to free all detained activists.
"The Houthi should stop these crimes against innocent people," she said.
Ms Mashour said the rebels' detention of women went against the values of Yemeni society. "For the first time in Yemeni history we are seeing these crimes against women," she told The National.
Activists said this was not the first time Ms Al Naami had been interrogated, and that no reasons were given for her arrest.
“In recent months she has been subject to various threats and intimidation, as part of a larger, co-ordinated Houthi campaign against development and humanitarian workers in Yemen,” the Centre for Applied Research in Partnership with the Orient said.
The Iran-aligned rebels have been battling the government of President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi, which is backed by a Saudi-led military coalition.
Ms Al Naami was known for calling on the international community to intensify efforts to end nearly four years of civil war that has created what the UN calls the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
“Peace means that no matter how much we disagree, we have to go into dialogue, I have to accept all your flaws and you have accept all my flaws,” she said last March.
Ms Al Naami’s release was welcomed by Yemeni activist Rasha Jarhum, founder and director of Peace Track Initiative and representative of the Women's Solidarity Network.
“To me her release is a symbol of the success of Yemen’s peace process. I am grateful and my hope is restored,” Ms Jarhum said on Twitter.
The development comes as Mr Griffiths tries to implement a prisoner swap deal between Yemen's warring sides, as part of efforts to build confidence in a slow-moving peace process. Both parties need to agree on the lists of prisoners to be swapped before any progress can be made.
The UN hopes the prisoner exchange and a truce in the main port city of Hodeidah will pave the way for a second round of peace talks.
A UN official confirmed to The National that Ms Al Naami's release was independent of the prisoner negotiations.
The prisoner swap was one of the least contentious confidence-building measures agreed upon at UN-sponsored peace negotiations in Sweden in December.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
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Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
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Price: From Dh117,059
The five pillars of Islam
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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More on animal trafficking
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
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- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Saint-Etienne v Montpellier (10.45pm)
Saturday
Monaco v Caen (7pm)
Amiens v Bordeaux (10pm)
Angers v Toulouse (10pm)
Metz v Dijon (10pm)
Nantes v Guingamp (10pm)
Rennes v Lille (10pm)
Sunday
Nice v Strasbourg (5pm)
Troyes v Lyon (7pm)
Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (11pm)