The sister of a young man forcibly disappeared by the Houthis four-and-a-half years ago in Sana’a published a video on social media describing her brother’s deteriorating health in detention.

In the video, circulated widely on social media, Bushra Al-Jubaihi said her brother Hamza’s retina was ruptured in the prison.

Prison authorities have denied family requests to let Hamza use the prescription eyeglasses, which he had worn from a young age until he was arbitrarily arrested in September 2016 while going to work. 

Bushra wept in the video when she spoke about a recent visit to see Hamza. "When I visited him, he went from a handsome young man to a pale face, who showed signs of aging,” she said, noting that he has suffered from psychological torture in the prison.

Shortly after Hamza's arrest, Houthis raided the home of his (and Bushra’s) father, Yahya Al-Jubaihi, and forcibly disappeared him.

After a 15-minute trial in 2017, the Houthi-run Specialized Criminal Court in Sana’a sentenced Yahya, a journalist, to death on allegations of collaborating with Saudi Arabia in the war against the rebels. After domestic and international campaigns condemned the sentencing, the Houthis released him, albeit, in poor health.