By Ali Al-Bassam
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SANA’A, Yemen — Lawyers representing victims and family members of those who died in last year’s Friday of Dignity Massacre have requested that the appellate court in Sana’a add the names of thirteen defendants to a list of others who were potentially involved in the tragic event.  The slaughter took place on March 18, 2011, when more than fifty people were killed during a protest for reform near Sana’a University.  Charges were also filed against former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.  He lost control of Yemen during last year’s revolution.

Among those charged is Saleh’s nephew, Yehya Abdullah Syed, who still holds a senior position in the country’s central security services.  He is charged with “inciting and participating in the killing of young protesters.”  The list of defendants also includes others affiliated with the former president, such as his top aides, who are also accused of playing a part in attempting to quell last year’s revolution.  Former Interior Minister Motahar Rashad Al-Masri and the former Head of Central Security Services, Abdulmalik Al-Taieb, were also named.

On the day of the massacre, gunmen, who witnesses described as hired “thugs” working for Saleh, shot at protesters from the rooftops around a square at Sana’a University, killing 52 and wounding many others.  Relying on eyewitness accounts, lawyers alleged on Saturday that the gunmen were driven to the site in cars bearing presidential license plates.  The act was scorned and condemned by Western powers and human rights groups.  Hundreds of people were killed during the revolution. It ended when Saleh promised to leave office after he accepted a Gulf-brokered power transfer deal that offered immunity from prosecution for himself and his aides.

Faisal Al-Majid, a member of the prosecuting team that represents the victims and their families, said that even though Saleh bargained for immunity when he left office, it does not mean that an investigation cannot be carried out.  He also claims that Saleh could still be brought to trial.

“U.N. Charters don’t allow human rights-related crimes to be exempt from prosecution,” said Al-Majid.  “We will see in the next days the seriousness of the Yemeni judiciary in dealing with this issue in a fair and effective way.”

Youth groups who want to see Saleh and his former aides stripped of their immunity continue to stage rallies.  Mohammed Saeed Al-Sharabi, a pro-democracy protester who witnessed the carnage, labeled the trial a “farce,” believing that it will not result in jail time for Saleh or anyone else who is immune from prosecution.

“Many revolutionaries are completely unsatisfied with this trial.  How are they conducting a trial while the main defendants are released?”  he asked.

The next hearing in this case is scheduled for November 23.

For further information, please see:

The News International — Yemenis Demand Saleh Trial — 14 October 2012

Yemen Times — Lawyers Seek to put Ousted Saleh on Trial — 14 October 2o12

Al Jazeera — Families of Killed Yemenis Demand Saleh Trial — 13 October 2012

Khaleej Times — Yemenis Demand Saleh Trial — 13 October 2012