A/HRC/42/CRP.1 assassination, Ansaf became the next most influential political figure. 374 Prior to the incident in December 2015 members of the Southern Movement and Salafis threatened to break into the office on 31st December 2015.375 272. The location was under the control of Security Belt. It is surrounded by three permanent checkpoints, between 50 and 400 meters away. The United Arab Emirates forces and mercenaries accessed the area via a Security Belt checkpoint 300 meters away, and left the area via another checkpoint 150 meters away. In subsequent attacks, Security Belt forces occupied the building and since October 2017 it has been a Security Belt post. 376 The mercenaries were appointed, paid, equipped, and provided with intelligence by United Arab Emirates personnel, and then tasked to kill a number of targets from al-Islah for the United Arab Emirates.377 They were given United Arab Emirates ranks and uniforms, and were part of the command structure of the United Arab Emirates answering to the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defence. United Arab Emirates forces escorted them to provide them with access to areas in Aden area during their operations. 378 Example Case 2: Assassination of Imam Fahad al-Yunisi 273. On 18 October 2017 at 04:45 hrs at al-Mansoura Block 23, Aden, a shooter killed Imam Fahad al-Yunisi by shooting him once in the head.379 The area surrounding the scene of the assassination is controlled by Security Belt, with a Security Belt post 100-150 meters away.380 Al-Yunisi was the Imam and speaker of al-Sahabah Mosque in al-Mansoura. He was the Principal of al-Bounyan Schools. He was part of the charitable Yemeni Hikmah Association with other Imams and involved in charity work. He was perceived as close to al-Islah, but not a member. At the time of his assassination he was about to be appointed as a leader in the Ministry of Religious Endowment in the Government of Yemen. Al-Yunisi addressed political and social issues, denounced corruption and talked about the poor economic situation.381 274. At the end of 2016, a group of Southern Movement supporters accused Fahad alYunisi of being with al-Islah and conducted demonstrations. Shallal Ali Shaye publicly stated al-Yunisi had been under surveillance from security forces but they had not found any evidence of wrongdoing yet.382 In December 2016 Hani Bin Breik publicly posted alYunisi’s full name and address online saying that a terrorist lived at that location, and reportedly met him in the days before his death, asking him to leave the al-Hikmah Association charity, which al-Yunisi refused to do.383 In October 2017, prior to his death, al-Yunisi made a series of social media posts challenging the authorities and calling for educational sessions at mosques to provide a refuge to people from discussing political issues.384 275. Al-Bounyan Schools is funded by the al-Hikmah Association, and was renowned as having a socially engaged education delivered by al-Yunisi and other imams, including his deputy Ramzi al-Zughair, who was assassinated one year later in the vicinity of where alYunisi was killed. In October 2017, two weeks after al-Yunisi’s assassination, Imam Adel al-Shiri, another leader in al-Bounyan Schools and the al-Hikmah Association, was reportedly assassinated. One month later, the replacement Imam for al-Sahabah mosque, 374 Confidential Sources on File. Confidential Sources on File. 376 Confidential Sources on File. 377 Confidential Sources on File. 378 Confidential Sources on File. 379 Confidential Sources on File. 380 Confidential Sources on File. 381 Confidential Sources on File. 382 Confidential Sources on File. 383 Confidential Sources on File. 384 Confidential Sources on File. 375 64