New Human Rights Report: Documenting Systematic Violations Against Journalist Sabri Bin Makhashen
The Media Freedoms Observatory in Yemen as part of the Justice 4 Yemen Coalition,has released an extensive Report documenting a series of violations against journalist Sabri Bin Makhashen due to his critical writings about the situation in Hadhramaut Governorate.
The report, titled “Sabri Bin Makhashen… A Journalist Who Found No Safety in His Homeland and Exile!”, details his arrest and detention under harsh conditions, as well as the assaults and threats that forced him to flee the country.
According to the Report, the journalist was tried in absentia by the Specialized Criminal Court, which labeled him as “a fugitive from justice” and sought his arrest through Interpol.
The Report reveals that the violations against Bin Makhashen began during the tenure of former Hadhramaut Governor Faraj Al-Bahsani, known for his hostile stance toward journalists as he currently serves as a member of the Presidential Leadership Council in Yemen. The Report oversaw 51 documented violations against journalists during Al-Bahsani term, out of a total of 79 recorded in the governorate from 2015 to the end of 2023.
Mustafa Nasr, the Chairman of the Observatory, emphasized that journalists in Yemen pay a heavy price, facing documented violations that include killings, arrests, enforced disappearances, torture, displacement, and trials, all stemming from their journalistic activities.
Nasr added, “Through this Report, prepared by the Observatory in collaboration with the Justice 4 Yemen Coalition, we aim to shed light on the suffering of journalist Sabri Bin Makhashen, who endured arbitrary practices, as well as similar cases of other journalists targeted by authorities expected to protect and support them in achieving justice.”
The Report also highlighted the misuse of judicial and security powers against journalists, presenting documents that illustrate systematic repression. These include a 2018 document demanding Bin Makhashen’s transfer to the Central Prison in the Governorate despite not being detained at that time. The Report also noted medical neglect during his detention, which worsened his health condition.
Although the current governor of Hadhramaut, Mabkhout Bin Madi, issued a ruling acquitting the journalist of the charges against him and invited him to return to Mukalla, Bin Makhashen was surprised by a new case accusing him of “insulting a public official.” Similar accusations have been used against anyone dissenting from the authorities.
The Report concluded with several recommendations to the Yemeni government and the international community, urging the protection of journalists and the accountability of those responsible for violations. It warned that the continuation of such practices undermines freedom of expression in Yemen.
To access the full report in Arabic, click here
To read the English version, click here