The Yemeni authorities, facing growing internal and external pressures, are abandoning human rights in the name of security. Internationally, tough action is being demanded to combat al-Qa’ida based in Yemen. Inside Yemen, the state is being challenged by a secessionist movement in the south, an intermittent conflict in the north, armed tribes that effectively control large areas of the country, and a desperate economic situation. This report highlights how the government is increasingly resorting to repressive laws and illegal methods in response to the challenges it faces and to silence its critics.
