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A Yemeni police officer in Sanaa Old City
Police had laid siege to the daily's offices after a policeman was killed while attempting to disperse a gathering protesting the banning since May of the daily that is accused of sympathising with southern separatists.
"We fear that Hisham Bashraheel and his sons may be prisoners of conscience, held solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly. If so, they should be released immediately and unconditionally," said Philip Luther, deputy director of Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa programme.
The London-based rights group said all three are being held and questioned at the criminal investigation department in Aden.
"Based on its research into patterns of torture and other ill-treatment in Yemen over a number of years, Amnesty International believes that the place and nature of their detention puts them at risk of such treatment," the statement said.
Bashraheel is also wanted by prosecutors in Sanaa to stand trial for his alleged role in the murder of a man in front of the paper's offices in 2008.
Al-Ayyam, one of the largest dailies in the south, was one of eight closed over allegations of inciting separatism in the region amid a wave of deadly unrest there.
The Yemeni government is dealing not only with separatist sentiments in the south, but a rebellion by Shiites in the north and militants from Al-Qaeda.
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"We fear that Hisham Bashraheel and his sons may be prisoners of conscience, held solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly. If so, they should be released immediately and unconditionally," said Philip Luther, deputy director of Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa programme.
The London-based rights group said all three are being held and questioned at the criminal investigation department in Aden.
"Based on its research into patterns of torture and other ill-treatment in Yemen over a number of years, Amnesty International believes that the place and nature of their detention puts them at risk of such treatment," the statement said.
Bashraheel is also wanted by prosecutors in Sanaa to stand trial for his alleged role in the murder of a man in front of the paper's offices in 2008.
Al-Ayyam, one of the largest dailies in the south, was one of eight closed over allegations of inciting separatism in the region amid a wave of deadly unrest there.
The Yemeni government is dealing not only with separatist sentiments in the south, but a rebellion by Shiites in the north and militants from Al-Qaeda.
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