Iranian sailors freed from Yemeni prison

TEHRAN, Dec.19 (MNA) – Five sailors of an Iranian vessel called Mahan, who were captured by the Yemeni police about two years ago, have been released from prison and returned home. The vessel, which was sailing along the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, was illegally seized by the Yemeni coast guard on October 25, 2009. Following intensive diplomatic and legal efforts by the Foreign Ministry and Iranian Embassy in Sana'a, the sailors were allowed to return home. At first, Yemeni officials tried to create the impression that the seized vessel was carrying weapons in order create a commotion against Iran, but later they withdrew the claim. The released sailors arrived in Tehran on Saturday night. The captain of the vessel, Shaaker Matouri, said he was forced to dock at an island between Yemen and Saudi Arabia close to international waters because of stormy sea conditions. He was then tricked into following a Yemeni fishing boat into Yemen’s territorial waters where the sailors were arrested and imprisoned. Matouri said they were subjected to mental torture and held in solitary confinement for three months, and at times held alongside al-Qaeda terrorists.