May: A Harsh and Repressive Month for Yemeni Journalists in 2025

May 2025 witnessed a serious escalation in violations against journalists and media workers in Yemen, with a total of 21 violations recorded. These included arbitrary arrests, threats, unfair trials, and restrictions on media activity.

This marks a continuation of the systematic targeting of the Yemeni press since the start of the conflict. Since 2015, the Observatory has documented over 2,622 violations, including killings, torture, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary detention, reflecting a deeply concerning decline in freedom of expression in the country.

The May violations included:

• 7 arrests
• 4 detentions
• 5 threats
• 2 court cases
• 1 attempted arrest
• 1 attempted assault
• 1 case of being barred from filming

The report noted that:

• 10 violations were committed by the Houthi group (Ansar Allah)
• 7 by the Yemeni government
• 3 by the Southern Transitional Council (STC)
• 1 by unknown perpetrators

The incidents spanned eight governorates:

• 5 in Hodeidah
• 4 in Sana’a
• 4 in Marib
• 3 in Taiz
• 2 in Aden
• 1 each in Hadramout, Dhamar, and Socotra

Prison Sentence for Expressing Opinion

On May 24, the Specialized Criminal Court in Sana’a (under Houthi control) sentenced journalist Mohammed Al-Meyahi to 18 months in prison and required him to submit a written pledge and a financial guarantee of five million Yemeni riyals to avoid repeating what the court called “violative acts,” referring to his articles and criticism of the economic and security situation.

Defense lawyer Abdulmajid Sabrah called the ruling unjust, noting that the judge has read the verdict from a mobile phone, an indication of the lack of judicial independence. The verdict came during only the second hearing, without giving Al-Meyahi a full chance to defend himself in court that lacks the proper jurisdiction over press cases.

Al-Meyahi was arrested in September 2024 after Houthi intelligence forces stormed his home. He had forcibly disappeared before the authorities revealed his place of detention. He later received the 2024 Courage Award in Journalism, shared with journalist Ahmed Maher, from the Media Freedoms Observatory in Yemen in recognition of their bravery in reporting the truth under threat.

Mass Arrests in Hodeidah Governorate

In another blatant violation, Houthi authorities detained six journalists and media activists in Hodeidah without any legal basis. They were later transferred to the Houthi intelligence prison in Sana’a. The detainees include:

• Marwa Mohammed (media student)
• Waleed Ghaleb (vice head of the Yemeni journalists’ Syndicate in Hodeidah)
• Photographer Abduljabbar Ziyad
• Director Abdulaziz Al-Nawm
• Writer Asim Mohammed
• Activist Abdulmajid Al-Zaylai

They were initially held in political security prisons in Hodeidah, denied legal access and visitation rights, and then transferred to the intelligence facility in Sana’a. This incident recalls a similar case involving nine journalists who were detained in a single raid in Sana’a, in a campaign directly targeting freedom of expression.

Official Ban on Filming

On May 28, the Office of the Mayor of Sana’a issued a memo banning any field photography or interviews by journalists or content creators unless they obtain prior authorization from the Houthi-controlled Ministry of Information. Observers say this expansion of restrictions to include ordinary citizens marks a dangerous shift, enhancing state censorship and limiting public access to truthful reporting from Houthi-controlled areas.

Mustafa Nasr, head of the Media Freedoms Observatory in Yemen stated that the alarming part of this new ban is its extension to social media users and ordinary citizens. This, he said, is an attempt to tighten the security grip and suppress expression, giving the Houthi group full control over what gets published or suppressed. Nasr added that since the early days of Houthi control over several areas, the group has imposed requirements for filming permits and that the Observatory documented many such cases in its 2022 report.

Death Threats: A New Tool to Silence Journalists

Journalist Abdulrahman Al-Rubaie was targeted in an incitement campaign that included his name on a list accused of betrayal by Houthi-affiliated figures, with open calls to monitor him and his relatives. This poses a serious threat to his personal safety and violates his right to security and life.

In Dhamar, journalist Fouad Al-Nahari was forced to flee his area after receiving a direct death threat and facing an attempted raid on his home by armed men. These events amount to forced displacement, separating journalists from their families and work.

Attacks on Journalists in Yemeni Government-Controlled Areas

Despite the assumption that Yemeni government-held areas are safer, recent events tell a different story. In Marib, journalists Abdulrahman Al-Humaidi and Najm Al-Din Al-Subari were detained and threatened by security forces after Al-Humaidi posted a call for accountability against attackers of a colleague. He was forced to delete his post and sign a pledge not to publish without prior security approval, a dangerous precedent restricting press freedom.

In Taiz, Hadramout, Aden, and Socotra, multiple incidents of threats, arrests, and physical assaults against journalists were reported. Journalist Abu Bakr Al-Yousifi received an explicit death threat, while journalist Imran Al-Hammadi was assaulted and forcibly detained, later coerced into dropping his case. Journalist Yaseen Al-Aqlani faced direct threats over an investigative report exposing suspected corruption.

In Hadramout, journalist Mohammed Omar, a correspondent for Belqees TV, was assaulted while covering protests at Ibn Sina Hospital. In Aden, photojournalist Hussein Belhasib was detained while covering a peaceful women’s protest. In Socotra, journalist Nawar Ahmed Shaaban was arrested due to posts he published on social media.

As impunity persists, violations against journalists continue to escalate daily, with no accountability for perpetrators or legal protections for press freedom. This judicial silence and official indifference have emboldened further abuse, creating a perilous environment for journalism in Yemen and undermining the vital role of a free press in conveying truth and representing the public voice.