MARSADAK Condemns Pursuit of Journalists in Hadramout and Demands an End to Violations

The Media Freedoms Observatory in Yemen (Marsadak) condemns the growing number of violations targeting journalists in Hadramout governorate. Recently, the local security authorities issued a circular ordering the arrest of three journalists: Abduljabbar Bajubir, Sabri Bin Mukhshen, and Muzahim Bajaber, due to their peaceful media activities.

According to complaints filed by the affected journalists, the Security Department in Hadramout issued arrest warrants to all security and military checkpoints across the governorate. These orders were based on coercive mandates issued in April by the Specialized Criminal Prosecution, in what appears to be an attempt to give legal cover to practices that clearly violate Yemeni law and international agreements related to press freedom and freedom of expression.

The Observatory affirms that such pursuits are part of repeated violations it has documented over the years, targeting journalists simply for doing their professional work. It also stresses that prosecuting journalists before the Specialized Criminal Prosecution for publishing-related matters constitutes a direct breach of the Yemeni Press and Publications Law, which prohibits imprisoning journalists or prosecuting them for their opinions or media coverage.

Given this continued deterioration, the Observatory points out that Hadramout, under the control of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, is among the worst governorates in terms of press freedom. It has recorded 97 violations in the past decade, including arbitrary detention, threats, and incitement against journalists and media workers.

The Media Freedoms Observatory strongly condemns these actions and holds the security authorities in Hadramout fully responsible for any harm that may befall the named journalists. It calls for an immediate halt to these violations and urges authorities to refrain from using legal tools to silence independent voices.

The Observatory also calls on relevant government bodies to respect their constitutional and international obligations to uphold freedom of opinion and expression and to ensure a safe and fair environment for journalism throughout the country.