The head of the National Committee for Defending al-Moayad and Zayed ,Hamoud Hashim al-Dharhi affirmed that the committee is about to complete the preparations for dispatching the lawyer Mohammad Naji Alaw to U.S. in order to represent al-Moayad and Zayed in the appeals.

He pointed out in a interview with almoayadZayed.net that the committee met with the president prior to his last trip to U.S and discussed with him al-Moayad and Zayed's case. He further asserted that the case was among the president's agenda to U.S., emphasizing the significance of the president visit which was set to free them or alleviate their suffers.

He also stated that financial transfers for al-Moayad and Zayed are still banned, but the ban of contact with their families was lifted three months ago.

Al-Dharhi called upon all official, private media and organizations concerned of human rights to have roles in the case.

Almoayadzayed.net met with al-Dharhi and filed the following interview:

Q: At the beginning, could you tell us about al-Moayad's health?

A: Thank you very much for your attention. Al-Moayad's health declines day-to-day. He called his family in the few last weeks, saying to them that he asked the Colorado Prison Management to take him to hospital, according to the doctor recommendation, but it still refuses that. Certainly his health is so bad and he also suffers mistreatment inside the prison management. That is so horrible! Thus, we call the international organizations concerned of human rights to press on the US administration in order to free and kindly treat them.

Q: Are there any updates about the case?

A: We are preparing to dispatch the lawyer Mohammad Alaw who the US embassy has lately agreed to grant him a U.S. visa to represent al-Moayad and Zayed in the appeal stage. The president had said to us after his last year visit to U.S. that they whether would be cleared or transferred to end their period in Yemen. Now we are waiting for the appeals.

Q: What do you expect of Alaw representation?

A: Alaw will be contact tool between us and the other lawyers, whereas he will coordinate the lawyers' efforts.

Q: Some of Guantanamo detainees were handed over to Yemen, why were not Sheikh al-Moayad and Zayed repatriated too?

A: Those detainees' cases are different as they were detained without charges or trials, but sentences were issued against al-Moayad and Zayed.

Q : Regarding the financial transfers which al-Moayed and Zayed were banned from, has the issue been settled ?

A: They are banned so far, but they could contact their family now after they were deprived for three months.

Q: What's about Mohammad Zayed?

A: He calls his family and us, complaining that the prison management had tried to press on him much whereas it brings mentally-sick persons to his cell. Surely, they both are suffering and the Yemeni envoy had visited them since a while and reported about their bad situation, thus, we are in urgent need to put formal and popular pressure.

Q: If we return back to the committee that you are the head of, is it an official or party one and who supports it?

A: It is a popular committee and the Islah's Shoura Council had recommended forming it, but it broadened to include all political parties and forces.

Q: Do you think that the committee could perform its roles or it could not achieve what is expected to do?

A:I think we are in need to widen our official and popular efforts .

Q: Once al-Moayad's lawyer asserted that al-Moayad and Zayed would be freed only if there is official and popular pressure; protests and sit-ins, why do you escalate those mechanisms?

A: Such activities were done by the Yemeni parties prior to issuing the sentences against them, however, they were suspended. Recently, the president ordered to escalate those activities. Thus, there would be briefings, protests and other activities marking the fourth anniversary of their arrest in Germany.

Q; How do you assess the roles of the Islah Party toward the case of Almoyad and Zayed ?

A: The Islah had Al-moayad and Zayed's case in all its agendas and schedules. It does best, but it would not like to limit the case since it concerns all Yemenis.

Q: What are about contacts with the international human rights organizations regarding taking part in the case?

A: This depends much on setting up a protest in US, but we could not arrange that up to now.

Q: Frankly, are you still expecting to free them or have you become desperate?

A ; Our trust on God and we will go on our efforts. We also look forward to Yemeni people to activate with the case. Additionally, we hope that official and private media exert their effort and embrace the case that concerns all Yemeni people.