February 4, 2010
Saudi Arabia – A videotape recorded by cell phone camera, and obtained by SIA News, shows members of the Saudi army torturing Yemeni citizens, suspected of being Houthi rebels.
The prisoners, who are suspected to be affiliated with the Houthi rebel group operating in the northern Yemeni province of Sa’dah, are seen being beaten on the soles of their feet with metal wires by Saudi military officials.
Several uniformed Saudi army officer, several soldiers and civilians are seen beating Yemeni who were crying, “I am a Yemeni” and the Islamic slogan “there is no God but God,” while soldiers were questioning about their nationality. The torture appears to have taken place inside a Saudi security building near the borders with Yemen.
Since November 2009, Saudi and Houthi forces have clashed along the Saudi-Yemeni border, after Saudi Arabia accused the Houthis of crossing its borders. As a result, Saudi forces employed air and ground raids into Sa’dah, targeting civilian infrastructure including schools and markets rather than engaging in conventional warfare with the Houthi fighters, killing and displacing thousands of Yemeni civilians.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated in January 2010 that more than 200,000 people in northern Yemen have been internally displaced since 2004 by the conflict between the Houthis, Yemeni government, and Saudi forces.
The Houthis have been fighting the Yemeni government for several years.
The torture of the Yemeni prisoners by Saudi officials in the video is illegal according to international humanitarian law, which asserts the humane treatment of prisoner of war as presented specifically in the Third Geneva Convention. Saudi Arabia has ratified all four Geneva Conventions. Saudi Arabia is a prime American ally and is customer of billions of dollars in arms deals.
The video can be viewed on the following link: http://item.liveleak.com/file?a=view_file&file_id=477653&connection=f5a_1265305849 |
