ADEN: Houthi militias and Saleh loyalists have committed brutal violations of Yemeni people’s rights, including arbitrary arrests and abduction of civilians, between Jan. 1, 2016, and Dec. 31 of the same year, the Yemeni Coalition for Monitoring Human Rights Violations (YCMHR) said in its annual report.
The report documented 5,092 cases of violations, of which 4,882 are arbitrary arrests and 210 are cases of forced disappearance, all contravening international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
Most of the violations were committed by armed Houthis and by militias of ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh — 4,841 cases, or 95 percent of the total — while security authorities committed 124 violation.
The report, a copy of which was received by Arab News, shows that 2016 witnessed a wave of arbitrary arrests and abductions by the allied Houthi-Saleh militias, targeting various groups of society, including children and women.
According to the statistics in the report, which monitored violations in all governorates of the Republic of Yemen, Sanaa governorate comes in the first place, with the number violations reaching 693 cases.
Al-Baydah governorate comes in second, with 655 documented violations, followed by the governorate of Ebb, with 539 documented violations.
The governorate of Hodeidah came in fourth, with 506 cases, followed by Emran governorate, with 479 cases.
Arbitrary arrests and abductions also targeted women; 20 cases of abuse were recorded against them.
In 2016, Yemen’s children were subjected to severe forms of violations. The YCMHR field monitoring teams documented 118 cases of child abuse and three cases of enforced disappearance of children.
Politicians were most vulnerable to arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances.
According to the report, 1,032 violations were committed against politicians.
Activists and human rights defenders subjected to violations ranked third, with 702 cases violations documented in the report.
Thousands of human rights violations by Houthis reported in last year
Thousands of human rights violations by Houthis reported in last year
Saudi center’s robotic liver study earns recognition
- Prof. Dieter Broering, executive director of the Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence in Riyadh, led the study
- In 2024, Prof. Broering performed the world’s first fully robotic left lobe liver transplant
RIYADH: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center has earned recognition for its study on fully robotic liver transplants, named one of the Top 10 Most Impactful Papers of 2024 by the American Society of Transplantation.
The study presents the world’s first series of fully robotic recipient liver transplants from living donors.
The paper, “Outcomes of Fully Robotic Recipient Living Donor Liver Transplant about the Open Approach,” highlighted improvements in robot-assisted liver transplants, including reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and better cosmetic outcomes compared with traditional surgery, without increasing complication rates.
Prof. Dieter Broering, executive director of the Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence in Riyadh, led the study. In 2024, he also performed the world’s first fully robotic left lobe liver transplant.
Broering said that this achievement demonstrates the potential of robotic transplant surgeries, particularly for high-risk procedures, and underscores our commitment to safer, faster and more effective patient outcomes.
The study was published in the Transplantation Journal, a leading platform for transplant research.
The center has been ranked first in the Middle East and Africa and 20th globally in the top 250 academic medical centers for the second consecutive year and was recognized as the most valuable healthcare brand in the region by the 2024 Brand Finance rankings. Additionally, it was included in the 2025 World’s Best Smart Hospitals list by Newsweek magazine.
Historic Islamic alliance pledges to improve access to education for girls
- Islamabad Declaration for Girls’ Education affirms girls’ education as both a religious obligation and societal necessity
- Malala Yousafzai: I am imagining this conference as a beginning of a new journey, where we commit to a future for every girl to have access to complete quality education
ISLAMABAD: Islamic religious, political and civil leaders have united in a historic campaign to improve access to education for girls and women.
The Islamabad Declaration for Girls’ Education affirms girls’ education as both a religious obligation and societal necessity.
It brings together a diverse range of religious schools of law including Deobandi, Hanafi and Haqqani schools, as well as gender activists like Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai and political and civil society leaders.
The declaration was signed during a conference in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, convened by Saudi Arabia’s Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League and chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars.
“I am imagining this conference as a beginning of a new journey, where we commit to a future for every girl to have access to complete quality education,” Yousafzai said in a statement.
“I want to thank the Muslim World League. Your Excellency Al-Issa; you have brought us together to address the barriers holding girls back from their right to go to school.”
Al-Issa added that the gathering “will not merely be a ‘call,’ a ‘declaration,’ or simply a ‘statement of stance.’
“Rather, it will represent a qualitative transformation in supporting girls’ education — a change that will bring joy to every deprived girl,” he said.
Religious leaders who affirmed the declaration include senior figures from the Deobandi school in Pakistan and India, leading Hanafi jurists, and the presidency of Darul Uloom Haqqania, Sheikh Anwarul Haq Haqqani.
Others included the Grand Mufti of Pakistan Sheikh Muhammad Taqi Usmani; the Mufti of Egypt Sheikh Dr. Nazir Mohammad Ayad; the Amir of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Pakistan) Sheikh Fazl-ul-Rahman bin Mufti Mahmood; the President of Ulema Council of Pakistan Sheikh Tahir Mahmoud Ashrafi; and the President of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind (India) Sheikh Syed Arshad Madani.
“This gathering brings together the intellectual capital of the Muslim world not just to appreciate the enormity of the challenge we face, but also as a declaration of our resolve to overcome all these impediments,” said Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
In addition, the Muslim World League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation agreed on a number of practical measures to improve access to education.
One of these measures is an awareness campaign by a number of educational centers and scholars.
Another is a new Islamic Educational Alliance drawing on a diverse and influential network of religious leaders, intellectuals, policy experts and academics from leading Islamic universities worldwide
The Muslim World League will also partner with a number of international organizations including the UN Refugee Agency and UN University for Peace to further the cause of providing access to education for women.
The summit brought together more than 150 dignitaries from 44 Muslim and other friendly states, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
Saudi foreign minister calls Algerian counterpart
- The two officials discussed regional developments and exchanged views on them during the call
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan called his Algerian counterpart Ahmed Attaf on Tuesday, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The two officials discussed regional developments and exchanged views on them during the call.
Arabic-speaking students gain access to world’s largest collection of music books
- Sheet music, songbooks and instrument method books to be translated
- New opportunities for musicians, teachers throughout the region
RIYADH: Arabic-speaking students will gain access to a significant collection of international sheet music, songbooks and instrument method books as part of a new agreement.
The Saudi Music Commission is partnering with Muse Group, owner of Hal Leonard — the world’s largest publisher of sheet music.
Along with Dar Nasher, the partnership will bring Hal Leonard’s material to a Saudi and wider Arabic-speaking audience, which the group said will create opportunities for musicians and teachers throughout the region.
Mo Chandi, COO of Muse Group, visited Riyadh to formalize the deal. “This partnership is about creating a connection between music education and cultural identity,” he said.
In an interview with Arab News, Chandi discussed the importance of cultural relevance in music education.
“Understanding music is not merely about technical skills; it’s also about appreciating the cultural context from which it arises. If you don’t understand certain pieces, you miss out on their cultural significance,” he added.
Chandi highlighted the Saudi Music Commission’s commitment to developing an Arabic-first set of books that translate the language and adapt content to resonate with local culture.
“Our goal is to ensure that young musicians can connect with their heritage while learning,” he added.
“We have an opportunity to elevate Arabic instruments to an international stage, ensuring they receive the recognition they deserve. The goal is to create an environment that fosters creativity and cultural growth.”
The significance of representation in music education is also a key focus for Chandi. “By showcasing Arabic instruments and music, children in Saudi Arabia will find relatable role models, inspiring them to pursue their musical interests while staying connected to their cultural roots,” he said.
The immediate focus of the partnership will be to translate Hal Leonard’s titles into Arabic and make them available in schools and libraries across the Kingdom.
“This effort will benefit students and enrich the broader music community by making quality educational resources widely accessible,” Chandi said.
He envisions a framework where children can explore music from an early age, cultivating their talents and potentially leading to a new generation of musicians from Saudi Arabia.
“We aim for a future where Saudi children can gain recognition on the global music stage,” he said. “Every child should have access to music education, as it can change their world.”
Saudi Red Crescent exhibits medical vehicles for pilgrimage services
- Spider motorcycle is designed for rapid deployment in emergencies
- A medical amphibious vehicle can transport 2 patients, has a continuous operational capacity of up to 19 hours
JEDDAH: The Saudi Red Crescent Authority is displaying advanced technology aimed at improving its services to pilgrims at the Hajj Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah.
The authority is introducing advanced 4x4 ambulances linked to control centers to enhance response times and medical services.
Another vehicle introduced by the authority is the Spider motorcycle, designed for rapid deployment in emergencies, particularly in crowded areas in Makkah and Madinah, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The vehicle contains essential medical devices, such as oxygen cylinders and immobilization splints, to respond to emergencies like asthma attacks and cardiac arrests.
The authority also introduced an amphibious vehicle, the first in the Middle East, which can navigate rugged terrain, water and muddy areas, the SPA reported.
It can transport two patients and six additional people, and has a continuous operational capacity of up to 19 hours.
The Hajj Conference and Exhibition runs until Jan. 16.
