MARSADK: Condemnation of the Assault on Cartoonist Hilal Al-Maraqib and Journalist Mohammed Al-Jama’i

The Media Freedom Observatory in Yemen strongly condemns the unjustified assault against cartoonist Hilal Al-Maraqib and journalist Mohammed Al-Jama’i, director of Aletihadia Radio, on the evening of Saturday, July 20, by guards belonging to the buildings’ security police in Marib Governorate.

According to communications received by the Observatory, Hilal Al-Maraqib and Mohammed Al-Jama’i were beaten and injured by fists and the butts of rifles while participating in a celebratory event in the Governorate.

We hold the security authorities in Marib responsible for these aggressive actions, and we demand the swift apprehension of the perpetrators and hold them accountable to receive their just punishment.

We also express our firm rejection of these increasing arbitrary practices in Marib Governorate, which are not the first of their kind. We have received numerous reports and complaints indicating that security guards have assaulted and harassed journalists and correspondents of TV channels while they were carrying out their work, despite having the necessary permits.

We affirm our support for journalists and are committed to aiding them through all legal means. We announce our readiness to appoint a lawyer to defend them before judicial authorities, ensuring they got remedied.