The UAE has rejected allegations mentioned in an Amnesty International report regarding its management of prisons in Yemen, stressing in a statement issued on Thursday that Yemeni prisons are within the jurisdiction of Yemeni authorities and are solely managed by Yemeni institutions.

The report was based on political motives aimed at undermining the UAE's efforts within the framework of the Arab Coalition supporting Yemen’s legitimate government, according to the statement published by WAM.

The statement read: "The Government of the United Arab Emirates has reviewed the report issued by Amnesty International with regards to prisons in Yemen and absolutely rejects it for it is contrary to truth and reality. The UAE does not run any prisons in Yemen."

The UAE confirmed that it has called on the Yemeni government to conduct an independent investigation into the matter.

“For follow-up, measures are currently being taken in this regard such as planning Red Cross visits to some prisons, and the UAE will continue to work closely with the Yemeni government in this regard,” concluded the statement.

Earlier on Wednesday, Yemeni Interior Minister Ahmed al-Maysari said that all central prisons in the liberated governorates are now under the direct authority of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and under the management of the administration of the Prison Service of the Interior Ministry.

"There are no longer any prisons outside the jurisdiction of the prosecution, the judiciary and the interior ministry. No other authority has any control or can interfere in this issue in any way," Maysari said in a statement posted on the ministry website.

He affirmed that the ministry will announce any secret prison found outside the authority of the prosecution and the judiciary and mention the part responsible for it. He added that in case secret prisons were found, Yemeni authorities will take legal action against the concerned parties.

Maysari called on anyone, who has information about the existence of prisons outside the authority of the government, to inform the interior ministry and the public prosecution to take necessary and deterrent measures. - aawsat