human rights defender
Intisar Al-Hammadi
Actions and Campaigns
Urgent support needed
Despite her suffering from some chronic diseases, Al-Hammadi was prevented from seeing specialised doctors or obtaining the necessary medicines.
HRD's Gender
Woman
Type of HRD
- Artist
HRD's thematic area of engagement
- Economic, social and cultural rights
HRD's bio and work
Intisar Abdulrahman Al-Hammadi is a Yemeni actress and model of Yemeni and Ethiopian descent, known for her work promoting Yemeni folkloric costumes. She starred in the popular television series "Dam Al-Gharib" and "Ghurbat Al-Ban" during Ramadan 2021. Al-Hammadi has faced both racism and condemnation for her profession, which many believe influenced her arrest on dubious charges. Her work in the arts and her promotion of cultural expression have made her a visible figure, challenging traditional norms around women’s rights and cultural freedom in Yemen.
Current Status
Released
Detained since
Feb 20, 2021
Date of release
Oct 26, 2025
Charge(s)
- Other
Sentence
5 years
Latitude: 15.39394
Longitude: 44.21693
Geolocation of detention
Country or area of detention
Region of detention
- Asia: Western Asia
Location of detention - City/Town
Sana'a
Location of detention - Facility
Central Prison
Allegations / reports of ill-treatment
Houthi authorities forced Al-Hammadi to sign a document while blindfolded during interrogation. Her trial lacked the minimum international standards for fairness and legal procedures, and issued its verdict without discussing the legal notes submitted by the defense team.
While in prison, Al-Hammadi has been subjected to severe mistreatment, such as harassment, beatings, solitary confinement, and medical neglect.
On 21 July 2022, Al-Hammadi was severely beaten by the jailers and head of the ward in which she is imprisoned, before being placed in solitary confinement. The reason behind this attack is reportedly Al-Hammadi’s use of Qat, a common Yemeni tradition that by no means justifies targeting her in such a violent manner. She has also been subjected to racist verbal abuse because of the colour of her skin by the Central Prison administration, which has shaved her head.
Recent case update / evolution
In November 2021, Intisar Al-Hammadi was sentenced to five years in prison by a Sana’a court on unproven charges of alleged prostitution and drug use, despite lacking evidence. The Court of Appeal upheld her sentence in February 2023, disregarding fair trial standards. In January 2024, her appeal was rejected by the High Court.
On 22 July 2023, a member of the Yemeni Parliament in the capital, Sana’a, Ahmed Saif Hashed, posted on his Twitter account an appeal signed by dozens of human rights defenders, academics, lawyers, and various members of society, in solidarity with the actress and fashion model Intisar Abdulrahman Al-Hammadi, entitled, “Intisar Al-Hammadi threatens that she will commit suicide in prison due to harassments.”
She was released on 26 October 2025.
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