Detention and Threats Against Journalists in Marib

The Media Freedoms Observatory in Yemen condemned the arbitrary detention and threats faced by journalists Abdulrahman Al-Humaidi and Najm Al-Din Al-Subari by security authorities in Marib Governorate. The incident stemmed from a Facebook post by journalist Al-Humaidi, in which he reported an armed assault against his colleague Al-Subari.

According to Al-Humaidi, both he and Al-Subari were detained on May 23, 2025, at the Third Security Area in Marib. Their phones were forcibly taken, and they were subjected to verbal threats and intimidation. Al-Humaidi was coerced into deleting his Facebook post and was held until midnight without any legal justification, in clear violation of the Yemeni Constitution and existing laws that guarantee freedom of opinion and expression and prohibit detention without legal grounds.

The Observatory regards the treatment of the two journalists as a flagrant violation of their rights and a dangerous attempt to silence voices and suppress freedom of expression, especially given that Al-Humaidi was calling for accountability for those who assaulted his colleague. The security forces have taken no serious steps to address the assault.

The Observatory also expressed deep concern over Al-Humaidi being forced to sign a pledge not to publish any issue related to Marib Governorate without prior approval from the security authorities. This poses a serious threat to journalistic independence and the public’s right to information, setting a dangerous precedent by placing journalistic work under security control.

The Media Freedoms Observatory calls for an urgent investigation into these violations, accountability for those responsible, and guarantees that such practices will not be repeated, aligning with Yemen’s international human rights obligations and ensuring that journalists can carry out their work freely and safely.

Finally, the Observatory renews its call on local and security authorities in Marib and across all Yemeni governorates to respect press freedom and the right of journalists to express their opinions without intimidation or persecution.