Speaker of the Yemeni House of Representatives Sheikh Yahya Ali Al-Ra’i met on Sunday with Head of the Military Committee Major General Yahya Al-Razami and Chairman of the National Committee for Prisoners Affairs Abdulqader Al-Murtadha.
During the meeting, Yahya Ali Al-Ra’i praised the efforts exerted by the Prisoners Affairs Committee and the positive results achieved leading to the signing of the latest prisoners exchange agreement.
Al-Ra’i stressed that completing the humanitarian issue and securing the release of all prisoners and detainees held by the US-Saudi aggression coalition and its mercenaries, in accordance with the principle of “all for all” outlined in the roadmap agreement, reflects the keenness of the Leader of the Revolution Sayyed Abdul-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi and the political leadership to prioritize the prisoners issue and provide all necessary facilitation to finalize the file.
He added that Parliament remains committed to addressing humanitarian issues, particularly salary payments and reopening airports for travelers and patients, considering the prisoners’ agreement as an advanced humanitarian step that reflects the revolutionary and political leadership’s concern for ending the suffering of detainees and their families.
The Speaker affirmed that efforts would continue until all prisoners, detainees, and forcibly disappeared persons are released, reiterating Parliament’s full solidarity with their families and praising all parties who contributed to reaching the agreement.
For his part, Major General Al-Razami commended the support of Parliament and noted that some prisoners have remained in detention for 11 years, emphasizing that the prisoners’ issue remains a top humanitarian priority under directives from Sayyed Abdulmalik Badr al-Din al-Houthi and President Mahdi Al-Mashat.
Meanwhile, Abdulqader Al-Murtadha stated that the exchange deal includes 1,100 prisoners and detainees in exchange for 580 prisoners from the Saudi-backed side. He explained that the agreement also covers individuals abducted by mercenaries of the aggression from roads, airports, and workplaces, many of whom were subjected to enforced disappearance and detention outside any legal or humanitarian framework.
Al-Murtadha revealed that negotiations lasted more than three and a half months due to multiple complications, including the unresolved fate of dozens of forcibly disappeared detainees over the past decade. He reassured families that those not included in the current deal would be considered in future exchange agreements currently under preparation.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Speaker of Parliament honored the Military Committee and the National Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs in recognition of their efforts in completing and signing the humanitarian agreement.
