A/HRC/42/CRP.1 confirmed the continued use of secret detention facilities in Sana’a by the de facto authorities to detain journalists, as recently as 2018. 379. Enforced disappearances in Sana’a were furthered by the regular transfer of detainees between different detention centres, including secret and official detention places. While in one case documented by the Group of Experts, the transfer was prompted by hostilities, namely coalition airstrikes586 hitting the detention centre, in most cases victims were unaware of the reasons behind their transfer. This practice considerably increased difficulties for families in locating their relatives. The Group of Experts documented several cases where detainees were transferred to Sana’a from detention centres in other governorates, such as Ta’izz, al-Hudaydah and Hajjah, either as part of an exchange of prisoners, including tribal-led ones, or for unclear reasons. “I was subjected to harassment, being beaten and detained for hours or days, in order to prevent me from looking for my abducted brother. I could not find him back then. I paid more than one million riyals.” Man searching for his brother whose fate was unknown587 380. The Group of Experts further documented the use of enforced disappearance as a punishment by the de facto authorities. After one detainee reportedly denounced in a public Court hearing on 2 April 2019 the ill-treatment he and his fellow detainees suffered in the Political Security detention centre, he was forcibly disappeared for more than a month, and subsequently absent from his next court session.588 Some relatives of disappeared detainees reported receiving threats and being harassed as they were searching for the whereabouts of their loved one.589 In two cases, the Group of Experts was informed that considerable amounts of money were paid to mediators and people who claimed they could assist in the process.590 381. The Group of Experts received information that the heads of prisons and detention centres do not obey judicial decisions and requests. In February 2019, the Public Prosecutor issued a decision requesting that the Ministry of the Interior release Mohammad Mohammad Qahtan, a leading member of the al-Islah Party who was arrested on 4 April 2015 and disappeared. However, the Head of the Political Security detention centre has reportedly not respected the prosecution order to date.591 (c) Restrictions on fundamental freedoms, including resulting arbitrary detention 382. The Group of Experts investigated a sample of emblematic incidents illustrating the pattern of arbitrary arrests, detention, enforced disappearances, torture and ill-treatment of persons deemed or declared to be in opposition to the de facto authorities’ control over the capital city. These incidents had the effect of severely limiting civic space. The Group of Experts’ investigations revealed a range of targeted groups and individuals, including journalists, media workers, tribal sheikhs, religious minorities, and human rights defenders in the broadest definition of the term, including NGO workers, lawyers, and people active on social media. Restrictions have also impacted ordinary citizens who are perceived as a threat based on their beliefs, social activities or participation in civil and political life, such as teachers and students, amongst many others. Women organizing and participating in peaceful gatherings have been specifically subjected to harsh treatment. Leaders and supporters of political parties have been a main target, especially followers of al-Islah, including those who are not active members of the party, as well as others including the GPC following the breakup of the Houthi-Saleh (and associated GPC) alliance in December 586 Confidential Sources on File. Confidential Sources on File. 588 Amnesty International, “Yemeni academic held incommunicado: Youssef al-Bawab”, 18 April 2019, available at https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde31/0224/2019/en/. 589 Confidential Sources on File. 590 Confidential Sources on File. 591 Confidential Sources on File. 587 93