By IRNA,
London: The Yemeni authorities must stop security forces from using unwarranted deadly force and heavy-handed tactics against protesters, Amnesty International has warned in its latest critique of responses by Arab countries to pro-democracy demonstrations.
“The government cannot just shoot its way out of this crisis,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
“Whether in uniform or in plain clothes, security forces must be immediately stopped from using live ammunition on unarmed protesters,” Luther said in a warning ahead of further planned protests on Friday.
“After the horrific killing of dozens of protesters last Friday, it is incredibly disturbing that Yemen’s leaders have given the security forces more powers through a new emergency law instead of reining them in,” he said
The London-based human rights group also condemned the declaration of the state of emergency in Yemen as an attack on freedom of expression.
“The emergency law appears to be a desperate attempt to reinforce mechanisms to stamp out dissent and shut out witnesses to human rights abuses,” said Luther.
“The Yemeni government needs to uphold its people’s right to express genuine grievances and ensure justice for those killed unlawfully,” he said.