Specialized Criminal Court in Sana’a Sentences Journalist Mohammed Al-Meyahi to 18 Months in Prison
The Media Freedoms Observatory in Yemen expresses its deep concern and strong condemnation of the verdict issued by the Specialized Primary Criminal Court in Sana’a, affiliated with the Houthis, which ruled to:
- Convict journalist Mohammed Al-Meyahi of the charges brought against him.
- Sentence him to one and a half years in prison.
- Require him to submit a written pledge and a financial guarantee of five million Yemeni riyals in the event of repeating what the court deemed as “such acts.”
The Observatory affirms that these actions clearly target journalist Mohammed Al-Meyahi for his views and expressions of opinion, particularly his social media post calling for a protest, against Houthis, in Al-Sabeen area in Sana’a. Although this specific post was not explicitly mentioned in the indictment, the judge’s questioning of the journalist during the session regarding it indicates a premeditated intent to silence voices and suppress freedoms.
It is worth noting that the Houthi group arrested Al-Meyahi on September 20, 2024, after storming his home and terrifying his family. He had then forcibly disappeared before it was revealed that he was being held by the Security and Intelligence Service in Sana’a, due to his journalistic writings and criticism of the security and living conditions in Houthi-controlled areas.
The Media Freedoms Observatory strongly condemns this unjust ruling and demands the immediate and unconditional release of journalist Mohammed Al-Meyahi. It also calls on all local and international human rights organizations to urgently act to halt the systematic violations against journalists in Yemen.