A/HRC/42/CRP.1 detention, reportedly as a result of the torture and ill-treatment he was subjected to. He was only released when his medical condition gravely deteriorated. The case of 10 journalists arbitrarily detained since 2015 386. The Group of Experts investigated the detention of 10 journalists (all men) who were accused of disseminating fake information on websites and social media platforms in support of Saudi Arabia and the coalition. On 9 June 2015, nine journalists were arrested at the same time from a hotel in Sana’a while another journalist was arrested on 28 August 2015 from his home in Sana’a. Most of them were reportedly working for online media opposed to the Houthis, mostly linked to al-Islah. They were detained in four different detention places, prior to being transferred to the Political Security detention centre in Sana’a, where they are currently held. During their various transfers, the journalists were forcibly disappeared for different periods of time. 387. On 5th October 2015, the Public Prosecutor requested that the Head of the alThawra Prison inform him immediately of the reasons for the detention of the 10 journalists or their presence in pre-trial detention. He determined that they should be released immediately if their detention was not in accordance with Yemeni law. However, the Head of the Prison did not respond to the public prosecutor’s request.599 388. For almost four years following their initial arrest, the 10 detained journalists had still not been presented to a prosecutor or before a court. They were only informed of criminal accusations against them on 18th February 2019 when their indictment was issued by the Head of the Specialized Criminal Court in Amanat al-‘Asimah. They were reportedly accused of disseminating rumours and lies on websites and social media platforms, and of supporting the coalition. Prior to that, they had no access to legal counsel to challenge the legality of their detention. An official request from the defence lawyers to the prosecutors to speak privately with their clients, in line with their right to have confidential interviews, was denied. More than four months after charges were brought against them, their trial was yet to begin. 389. In at least three of the cases investigated by the Group of Experts, detainees were allegedly tortured or otherwise ill-treated in three different places of detention, including in interrogation sessions at the General Directorate of the Criminal Investigation and the Political Security detention centre. Reported acts of torture included suspension from the ceiling, electric shocks, beating with wooden boards and chains, kicking and slapping, prohibition of urination, verbal abuse and humiliation, and the use of solitary confinement. In most interrogation and torture sessions, the victims were blindfolded and the questions during the interrogation focused on their alleged collaboration with the coalition. If they denied it, the guards would beat them until they confessed. 390. The detainees reportedly went on hunger strike in 2016 while in Habrah detention facility in Sana’a to protest against the poor detention conditions and for being kept in incommunicado detention for five months.600 Physical abuse against these journalists reportedly occurred as recently as April 2019 in the Political Security detention centre, while at the same time the irregular approvals of family visits further affected detainees’ mental health. “They say that a prisoner is half crazy … I am undoubtedly running towards insanity with my feet, or is insanity running towards me with many feet and different shapes”601 Journalist detained in Sana’a Case of a student and social media activist held without charge despite a judicial order for his release 599 Confidential Sources on File. Confidential Sources on File. 601 Confidential Sources on File. 600 95