A/HRC/42/CRP.1 University student detained in March 2016 leaving Ta’izz to take his final exam “[T]hey destroyed my future. I have not completed my studies yet. But God willing I will complete them because when I came out I was not ready to complete them." "I got out and my heart was sad for what the kidnapped were being subject to in prison." University student detained while leaving Ta’izz after school holidays 366. The Group of Experts investigated a sample of emblematic cases of persons who alleged that they were detained by the de facto authorities and spoke with families who reported the detention and disappearance of relatives. The Group of Experts received the names of over 700 persons, mainly civilians, who have allegedly been detained in Ta’izz during the course of the conflict by the de facto authorities. 555 The Group found that cases it investigated exhibited similar patterns to the broader allegations received, which it found to be indicative of the scale of detention-related violations by the de-facto authorities across the governorate. Enforced disappearances occurred in six out of nine cases investigated in Ta’izz, and some individuals remained disappeared at the time of writing. Many detainees described having no communication with their families for periods ranging from two to nine months, and both detainees and their families described situations where they were not aware of their whereabouts. Individuals were detained while entering or exiting Ta’izz through Houthi controlled check-points or areas, and were also removed from their homes or detained as Houthi military operations came through their neighbourhood. Most detainees released by the de-facto authorities were civilians who were reportedly exchanged for Houthi fighters detained by the Government. 556 In some cases, detainees were released due to the degradation of their health or in return for payments. 557 For those released from detention, after spending months or years being subject to torture and illtreatment as well as degrading conditions, the toll on their physical and mental health continued: “I suffer from nightmares and bad dreams, and am suspicious of people and afraid of my phone when it rings.”558 367. Most detainees were transferred to al-Saleh City Prison where they were investigated, and then transferred on to Dhamar Community College. Al-Saleh City Prison, described as “a large hub for detainees”,559 is “one of the biggest prisons in Yemen where major violations are going on", according to one lawyer.560 It is located in al-Hawban, east of Ta’izz city, and consists of several buildings holding approximately 400 persons who are detained in different sections including the “National Security” and “Political Security” sections where human rights workers, political activists, lawyers and political opponents are held, as well as fighters captured during hostilities.561 These sections are regarded as the two most important ones, and anyone detained in these was rarely afforded any due process. Dhamar Community College is located several kilometres north of Dhamar City. Although well-known, it is considered as a secret detention facility, and de facto authorities do not admit its existence. The place is used to investigate and interrogate detainees who are brought in from other detention facilities such as the nearby Central Prison in Dhamar city.562 Detainees were also held there before being released through an exchange in return for Houthi fighters held by the Government.563 Most of the detainees held in Dhamar Community College are from the Ta’izz governorate and have been transferred there from al-Saleh City Prison.564 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 88 Confidential Sources on File. Confidential Sources on File. Confidential Sources on File. Confidential Sources on File. Confidential Sources on File. Confidential Sources on File. Confidential Sources on File. Confidential Sources on File. Confidential Sources on File. Confidential Sources on File.