Yemen’s Houthi rebels have released an actress and model, Intisar Al Hammadi, who spent almost five years in prison on charges of indecency and drug possession.
Ms Al Hammadi's lawyer Khalid Al Kamal announced her release on Sunday. Human rights groups had described her case as having been marred by irregularities and abuse.
Detained by militiamen in Yemen's rebel-held capital, Sanaa, in February 2021, Ms Al Hammadi was sentenced to five years in prison after a Houthi-run court convicted her of committing an indecent act and having drugs in her possession. She was 20 years old when she was detained.
A statement signed by dozens of public figures in Yemen welcomed her release and called on the Houthis to provide health care. Her detention and trial were regarded as an example of Houthi repression of women and dissent in areas under their control.
Her lawyer, Khalid Al Kamal, said Ms Al Hammadi, who was arrested along with three other women, was released from the Central Prison in Sanaa on Saturday. She and one of the women, Yousra Al Nashri, were sentenced to five years, while the two other women received one and three years in prison respectively.
Human Rights Watch had criticised the court proceedings as arbitrary and lacking due process. Ms Al Hammadi attempted to take her own life in 2021, rights groups said at the time.
Born to an Ethiopian mother and a Yemeni father, Ms Al Hammadi had posted dozens of pictures online in traditional costume, jeans, or a leather jacket, both with and without an Islamic headscarf. She has thousands of followers on Instagram and Facebook.
Human Rights Watch said she had worked as a model for four years and acted in two Yemeni TV series. Amnesty International said that upon her arrest, she was interrogated while blindfolded, physically and verbally abused, subjected to racist insults and forced to "confess" to several offences.
Violence against women, especially in Houthi-controlled areas, soared after Yemen plunged into a civil war in 2014 that the UN says has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
With reporting from agencies …
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
Zombieland: Double Tap
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Stars: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone
Four out of five stars
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BMW M5 specs
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The specs: 2017 Lotus Evora Sport 410
Price, base / as tested Dh395,000 / Dh420,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission Six-speed manual
Power 410hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 420Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.7L / 100km
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
'Manmarziyaan' (Colour Yellow Productions, Phantom Films)
Director: Anurag Kashyap
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
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Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
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On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
