Press release
MARSADAK: Holds the Houthis Responsible for the Safety of Journalist Fouad Al-Nahari
The Media Freedom Observatory in Yemen condemns the continued arbitrary violations against journalist Fouad Al-Nahari, the latest of which was an attempted arrest by an armed group affiliated with the Houthi group. The attempt coincided with his absence from home. Prior to that, on May 10, 2025, the journalist received a death threat via a phone call.
The Houthi group in Dhamar Governorate had previously arrested journalist Al-Nahari in September 2024 and released him after a month of arbitrary detention due to his professional activities and journalistic writings.
These actions including death threats, attempted forced arrest, and previous arbitrary detention constitute a blatant violation of international human rights law and the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
The Observatory holds the Houthi group fully responsible for the safety of journalist Fouad Al-Nahari and calls on the group to:
- Immediately cease all forms of persecution, threats, or intimidation against journalists and human rights defenders.
- Unconditionally release all individuals arbitrarily detained due to their media work or opinions, including those who have been detained for over ten years and subjected to enforced disappearance, torture, and unfair trials, some of which were held in secret and without legal representation, in gross violation of Articles 9 and 14 of the international human rights law.
- Open an independent and transparent investigation into the recent death threat and attempted arrest and hold all responsible parties accountable.
The Media Freedom Observatory urges the international community, including UN special mechanisms on freedom of opinion and expression, to exert maximum diplomatic pressure to ensure the protection of journalists in Yemen and to put an end to the systematic repression of press freedom.