Ahmad Maher, a 28-year-old Yemeni journalist, who was arrested on 6 August 2022 by security forces in Aden, is on trial before the Aden-based Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) on charges of disseminating false and misleading news and forging identity documents. During interrogations at the Dar Sa’ad police station, security forces subjected him to torture and other ill-treatment to force him to “confess” to being involved in an attack on Dar Sa’ad police station in March 2022. He has been denied access to adequate healthcare including for injuries sustained as a result of torture. His trial rights have been severely violated including his right to adequate defence, to access a lawyer of his choosing, to presumption of innocence and to not self-incriminate, rendering his detention arbitrary. According to his family, Ahmad Maher has been on hunger strike since 17 January to demand a fair trial, amid mounting concerns for his health.
