Statement on the Incitement Against Journalist Al-Sufyani
The Media Freedoms Observatory in Yemen condemns the accusations issued by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Aden” against journalist Yaqub Al-Sufyani, accusing him of blackmail, spreading lies, and falsifying numbers and data in connection with his publication of information regarding scholarships allocated to students studying abroad.
The Observatory clarified that the Ministry should have instead investigated the information published by the journalist and disclosed the data related to scholarships, as this aligns with the fundamental principles of transparency and the public’s right to information. The Press and Publications Law guarantees the Ministry the right to respond or resort to legal channels.
The Observatory denounces the ministry official’s resort to making serious accusations against the journalist, particularly the charge of blackmail, on the grounds that Al-Sufyani had applied for a scholarship to Hungary but did not meet the criteria. It would have been more appropriate for the Ministry to clarify its position on the scholarship issue through transparent and responsible means, rather than leveling accusations at the journalist.
The Observatory affirms that the right to access information and hold official bodies accountable is a fundamental right of journalists, guaranteed by the Yemeni Constitution, national laws, and international conventions related to press freedom and freedom of expression.
In this context, the Observatory emphasizes the need for official institutions to adopt transparency rather than silencing or intimidating journalists performing their professional duty. At the same time, the Observatory stresses that all journalists and media professionals must adhere to professional and ethical standards in their writing and avoid publishing any information without reliable evidence and documentation, in commitment to credibility and in protection of the journalism profession from misinformation and manipulation.