The Houthis to Release Leader of Islah Party in Yemen Prisoner Swap Deal
In a significant development, Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis have agreed to release Mohammed Qahtan, the leader of the Islah party, as part of a deal struck with the Saudi-backed government in Aden. The top Houthi negotiator, Abdul Qadir Al-Murtada, revealed this information to Reuters on Wednesday.
Qahtan, who has been in Houthi custody since 2015, has been a prominent member of the Saudi-backed government. His family has been unable to visit him, and his whereabouts have been unknown. The terms of the agreement state that if Qahtan is deceased, his body will be exchanged for 50 Houthi bodies held by the government, and if he is alive, he will be swapped for 50 Houthi prisoners.
The negotiations also involved the exchange of lists totaling around 400 prisoners, although a final agreement was not reached. Talks will continue in Muscat, Oman, with the aim of building confidence and moving towards a comprehensive peace process in Yemen’s ongoing civil war.
This prisoner swap is a crucial step towards resolving the conflict in Yemen and is being closely monitored by the international community.
(Source: Reuters)