Webinar: Journalists Share Their Suffering and Call for Protection from Security Violations and Unjust Rulings

The Media Freedoms Observatory in Yemen organized a discussion webinar attended by more than 50 male and female journalists and human rights activists. They discussed the major challenges and violations faced by male and female journalists in Yemen, calling for protection from arbitrary arrests and unfair judicial rulings.

During the webinar, Taha Al-Maamari, General Manager of Yemen Digital Media Company, revealed severe violations against his company, which peaked with the confiscation of all the company’s equipment, the dismissal of 64 employees, and a death sentence issued against him. Additionally, his personal property, including real estate and bank accounts, was seized based on unproven charges under the notorious “judicial guard” system.

Baddar Farouk, Acting Representative of the UN High Commission for Human Rights in Yemen, spoke about international redress mechanisms and the role of global justice in protecting journalists. He highlighted the challenges they face, especially in Houthi-controlled areas, where the UN office was shut down and several of its staff were arrested. In Yemen’s government-held areas, the Commission still has a presence, although some security entities have ignored its appeals, as seen in the case of journalist Nasih Shakir.

Farouk also noted that it would be beneficial for civil society, including journalists, to advocate for a visit by the Special Procedures mandate holders to Yemen particularly those relevant to the country’s current context. These include the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, among others.

In the same vein, Mustafa Nasr, Chairman of the Studies and  Economic Media Center (SEMC), emphasized the importance of reminding the world about the brutal reality of journalism in Yemen. He warned against the use of the law as a tool to silence journalists and the attempts to stifle free expression under the guise of legal procedures.

Legal expert and human rights activist Hiba Eidaroos outlined the main violations faced by journalists in 2024, describing them as part of a systematic undermining of the media’s role as the fourth estate. She stressed the need to establish specialized prosecution offices for media-related cases, modernize legislation to include digital media, and promote legal awareness among journalists.

The webinar included contributions from journalists and rights advocates, who urged the international community to intensify its efforts to protect journalists and end the culture of impunity.

Statistics presented by the Media Freedoms Observatory in Yemen revealed that over 2,600 violations against journalists occurred over the past decade, including 54 killings of journalists and media workers, with none of the perpetrators held accountable. Three journalists remain detained by the Houthi group, and one journalist is still imprisoned in government-controlled areas.

It is worth noting that the Media Freedoms Observatory is an independent monitoring and information platform that documents and disseminates information related to freedom of opinion and expression across Yemen. It also analyzes and advocates journalists’ issues both locally and internationally.