Yemeni Model Entisar al-Hammadi Freed After Nearly Five Years in Houthi Custody

TDT | Manama

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After nearly half a decade behind bars, Yemeni model and actress Entisar al-Hammadi has finally walked free. Her release was confirmed by her lawyer, Khaled al-Kamal, and a security source on Sunday, ending one of Yemen’s most talked-about human rights cases.

Al-Hammadi, now 23, was arrested in February 2021 while on her way to a photoshoot in Sanaa, the capital controlled by Houthi rebels. She was later sentenced to five years in prison on charges of prostitution, drug abuse, and fornication—allegations her lawyer and international rights groups described as fabricated and politically motivated, targeting her as a woman who dared to defy conservative social norms.

“Entisar al-Hammadi was released yesterday evening and is now back home,” her lawyer told AFP, adding that she suffered from serious health complications due to the harsh conditions and the “injustice she endured.”

Rights groups had reported that the young model attempted suicide in 2021, following alleged mistreatment and humiliation in prison. Amnesty International previously revealed that Hammadi was interrogated while blindfolded, beaten, insulted with racist slurs, and coerced into a false confession.

Born to an Ethiopian mother and Yemeni father, Hammadi had built a name for herself as a fashion model and TV actress, appearing in two Yemeni drama series and captivating thousands of followers on Instagram and Facebook. Her posts—ranging from traditional Yemeni attire to modern fashion—represented a rare expression of freedom and individuality in a society where such displays are often condemned.

Her arrest and prolonged detention became a symbol of repression against women in Houthi-controlled territories, where activists say gender-based violence and restrictions have sharply increased since Yemen’s civil war erupted in 2014.

International organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have long called for Hammadi’s release, describing her case as part of a broader crackdown on women’s rights in the war-torn nation.

Now, as Entisar al-Hammadi returns home after years of silence and suffering, her story stands as both a testament to resilience and a reminder of the cost of courage in Yemen’s ongoing struggle for freedom and dignity.