Yemen’s Houthi rebels have refused to rule on an appeal against a prominent Baha’i leader who has been sentenced to death.
Hamed Bin Haydara, has been in Houthi detention since 2013, and is charged with espionage and apostasy.
A hearing was held for Mr Haydara on Tuesday but remained inconclusive, and the next court session is scheduled for the end of the month, according to the US Baha'i office of Public Affairs.
Dozens of Baha'i followers, including six prominent members, held by the rebels have been tried on charges the minority says are false.
“A Houthi court in Sanaa has also given 22 Baha’is the same charge as Mr Haydara, most of the defendants have been imprisoned and spent years in detention since the rebels took over Sanaa,” according to the Yemeni Initiative for Defending the Rights of Baha’is.
A UN resolution has called for the immediate release of all Baha’i that are detained in Yemen due to their religious beliefs and to cease any harassment they are subjected to.
Mr Haydara,55, has been subjected to physical and psychological torture as well as being in solitary confinement for long periods, Majd Fadhil, Yemen's deputy Human Rights Minister told The National.
“We have made continuous statements that confirm that there is no legitimacy and legality to his death sentence,” Mr Fadhil said.
But the Iran-backed rebels have not responded to the government's request to release the Baha'i detainees.
“This is a pure violation to the international and human rights laws,” Mr Fadhil said, adding that the ministry is calling on the UN and other international agencies to condemn this crime.
“They must pressure the militias to release all those who are arbitrarily abducted, forcibly disappeared,” the official said.
The Houthi court last year ruled for the confiscation of Mr Haydara’s assets and properties and for the closing of all Baha'i institutions in Yemen, Mr Fadhil said.
His family members say he is in poor health and must be released immediately.
Violence against the minority group has become more common over the last three years since the rebels seized Yemen’s capital.
"Mr Haydara is innocent of any crime and should be cleared of all charges. This ongoing prosecution, based solely on his religious beliefs, is an affront to justice. We ask that he and all other imprisoned Baha'is be released immediately," Anthony Vance, Director of the Office of Public Affairs for the Baha'is of the United States told The National.
The Baha'i faith was founded in Iran, but is opposed by the regime in Tehran. Iran grants freedom of religion to several minorities but targets the Baha'is, who believe in unity among religions.
Nearly 2,000 Baha'is live in Yemen, with most of them based in Houthi-held Sanaa. Prior to the rebel coup, the vulnerable community coexisted in peace with other factions of Yemen’s society.
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When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
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Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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more from Janine di Giovanni
Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
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'THE WORST THING YOU CAN EAT'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
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