Shehri, director of the Saudi Al-Salam Hospital in the Yemeni Sa'da Governorate, is being held captive by members of the Yemeni Aal Abbadah tribe from Aal Abu Jibarah in Sa'da, Ali Bin Muhammad Al-Hamdan, the Kingdom's ambassador to Sana'a, told Okaz/Saudi Gazette by phone. Sources said Al-Shehri's captors said they will release him if Yemeni authorities release one of their tribesmen who has been in prison for more than a year. The embassy is exerting its “utmost efforts to get him released as soon as possible,” Al-Hamdan said. Sheikh Muhammad Al-Waeli, tribal chief of Waela tribe in Najran, said he telephoned Hussein Bin Ahmad, sheikh of Aal Abbadah tribe in Yemen and demanded his intervention to get Al-Shehri released. He was told, though, that the people holding him insist that their son has to be released from prison in Sana'a. He described this act as “criminal” and as one that violates international law and tribal norms. Al-Waeli said the Aal Abbadah tribe would absolve themselves of the kidnappers in case they insist on holding Dr. Al-Shehri captive, even if the matter “reaches the level of allowing the Yemeni state to shed their blood.” He demanded that all chiefs of Aal Abbadah tribes intervene to ensure the release of the Saudi doctor, who is being held captive without having done anything wrong.
