Marsadak Condemns Attack on Aden Al-Ghad Newspaper Headquarters in Aden
The Yemeni Media Freedoms Observatory (Marsadak) condemns the attack on Aden Al-Ghad newspaper, which involved destruction of property and assaults on its staff, occurring today, Sunday, February 1, 2026, in the city of Aden.
Video footage documented acts of vandalism and destruction of all the newspaper’s property by armed individuals carrying flags of the dissolved Southern Transitional Council (STC), resulting in injuries to two of the newspaper’s employees.
The Marsadak expresses deep concern over this blatant attack on the newspaper and emphasizes that the protection of journalism and journalists is a legal and security responsibility that falls on the relevant authorities in Aden, ensuring that media work continues in a safe and stable environment.
The Marsadak calls on the leadership of the local authorities in Aden, the province’s security agencies, and the Ministry of Interior to promptly apprehend the perpetrators and hold them accountable for these attacks, which violate the constitution and prevailing laws.
Marsadak notes that this attack sends a negative message, especially after Aden had witnessed a relative improvement in media freedom in recent weeks, according to statements from several journalists, including the return of reporters from some media outlets to resume their work within the governorate. This makes it essential to preserve and reinforce this positive atmosphere.
Marsadak stresses the importance of projecting a positive image of Aden as a safe space for journalistic work, particularly as several channels and media outlets are anticipating the reopening of their offices. This requires practical measures to ensure that media institutions and their staff are not targeted and that press freedom is not undermined.
The Marsadak expresses its full solidarity with Aden Al-Ghad newspaper and all its journalists, led by colleague journalist Fathi bin Lazraq, calling for serious steps to strengthen the climate of media freedoms and protect journalistic work from any future threats.