“MARSADAK” Documents 98 Violations Against Media Freedoms in 2024
A report by the Media Freedoms Observatory in Yemen (MARSADAK) documented 98 violations against media freedoms in Yemen during 2024, reflecting the ongoing deterioration of press conditions and freedom of expression in the country.
The report detailed that these violations included executions, arrests, assaults, threats, detentions, and unlawful trials. The most shocking case was Al-Qaeda’s admission to executing journalist Mohammed Al-Maqri, who had been held in their prisons for over nine years, devastating his family, who had hoped for his release or at least learning of his fate.
The report recorded 15 cases of arrest, six temporary detentions of journalists before their release, 3 assaults, 17 threats, and 40 instances of interrogations and trials by unauthorized entities. Notably, a Houthi-controlled court sentenced journalist Taha Al-Maamari to death and confiscated his assets without legal grounds. The report also documented six violations targeting media institutions, including the bombing of “Rima” and “Hodeidah FM” radio stations by U.S. airstrikes, as well as nine other violations.
The report found that the Yemeni government and its allied factions were responsible for 57 violations, followed by the Houthis with 27. Additionally, it recorded three violations by influential individuals, one by Al-Qaeda, two by U.S. airstrikes, three by unknown parties, and five by other entities.
According to the report, Aden topped the list with 27 violations, followed by Sana’a with 25, Taiz with 14, and nine violations each in Hadhramaut and Marib. Shabwah recorded seven violations, while Al-Hodeidah had two, and Al-Mahrah, Al-Bayda, Rima, Dhamar, and Amran each had one.
The report emphasized that continued impunity encourages an escalation of violations against journalists in Yemen, where they are often implicated in serious cases without evidence or fair trials. It highlighted the use of security and judicial authorities to serve conflicting parties, leading to a disregard for local laws and international treaties concerning press freedom and human rights.
Over the past decade, the Observatory has documented approximately 2,600 violations against journalists in Yemen. The Houthis were the most frequent violators, with 1,881 incidents, including the blocking of over 200 news websites, effectively eradicating independent or dissenting media in areas under their control. The Yemeni government followed with 342 violations, making its areas highly perilous for journalists.
The Observatory called on the international community and human rights organizations to pressure conflicting parties to release forcibly disappeared journalists, including Wahid Al-Sofi, detained by the Houthis, and Nasif Shaker, detained by the government in Aden, as well as Ahmed Maher, Mohammed Al-Hattami, Nabil Al-Saddawi, and Mohammed Al-Mayahi.
The report concluded by stressing the need to hold violators accountable and respect international conventions to ensure a safe environment for journalists in Yemen.
The Media Freedoms Observatory in Yemen is a monitoring and information platform aiming to professionally and independently document all matters related to freedom of opinion and expression across Yemen, while advocating for journalists’ rights locally and internationally.