Session: The Future of Journalism… Working in an Environment Marked by Physical and Digital Threats
The first session of the Third Yemeni Media Conference was held, discussing “The Future of Journalism: Working in an Environment Marked by Physical and Digital Threats.” The session, which included a group of journalists and specialists, covered five different areas highlighting the realities of journalism in Yemen.
In this context, Mohammad Ismail, the SEMC’s Executive Manager, presented a comprehensive overview of the violations faced by journalists over the past ten years. These violations exceeded 2,500 incidents, including 54 cases of murder for which the perpetrators have not been held accountable.
Ismail also noted that all conflicting parties in Yemen have committed various violations against journalists. Six journalists remain forcibly disappeared, while others face trials in unauthorized courts with serious charges, such as terrorism and destabilizing security, aimed at silencing journalistic voices.
Ismail explained that these challenging conditions have negatively impacted the practice of journalism, leading many journalists to use pseudonyms, while others have stopped working altogether, left the country, or relocated within Yemen. He also highlighted that the Houthi group is the biggest violator of press freedom, as many areas have become devoid of independent and partisan journalism. Additionally, they have blocked more than 200 news websites.
Similarly, areas under the control of the Yemeni government and other parties have perpetrated similar violations against journalists, including arrests, harassment, and censorship.
In terms of support, Ismail mentioned that the Yemeni Media Freedoms Observatory provides urgent assistance to male and female journalists for free, including legal support and defense before security and judicial authorities, as well as legal consultations to help avoid legal issues before publishing investigations. Additionally, the Observatory offers psychological support sessions and digital consulting services from experts to help journalists cope with threats and electronic hacking attempts.
During the Conference, journalist Hamdi Albokari, a correspondent for Al Jazeera, discussed the various methods of threats faced by journalists in Yemen. Albokari presented a presentation based on his extensive experience in covering events, highlighting the significant challenges and violations committed by different parties in the conflict, including direct targeting, censorship, espionage, as well as cyber threats and attempts at blackmail.
Albokari’s session was a comprehensive training on how to handle risks, emphasizing the importance of journalists acquiring multiple skills to confront these challenges. He explained that these skills can be gained through intensive and diverse training programs. He also highlighted the necessity for journalists to adhere to safety measures, such as wearing body armor and helmets, and being equipped with first aid supplies, to minimize the risks they may face during their work.
In the legal session, lawyer Jamal Al-Jobi addressed the texts that restrict journalistic work in Yemen, explaining the efforts made to defend journalists in Aden. Al-Jobi highlighted how the legal system has been exploited by all parties to suppress freedom of opinion and expression.
He shared his personal experience in defending journalists, particularly his follow-up on the case of the missing journalist Nasih Shakir in Aden. He discussed how security authorities and relevant entities interacted with him during the search for the journalist.
Al-Jobi affirmed that the laws governing the oversight of journalistic work remain the same as those previously used by the conflicting parties, reflecting the ongoing existence of a legal environment that is hostile to press freedom.
Waheb Alnosari, editor-in-chief of the independent Al-Mushahid Net website, talked about the impact of political polarization on media diversity during the ongoing war in Yemen. Alnosari reviewed the milestones of press freedom since 1990, pointing out how political polarization began amid conflicts between the Socialist Party and the General People’s Congress, leading to negative effects on media outlets and reporters.
Alnosari also addressed the dire conditions that journalists are currently facing, noting that media polarization has marginalized independent and neutral media outlets. In Sana’a, many channels opposing the Houthi group have been closed and looted, and more than 200 news websites have been blocked. In this context, Alnosari highlighted the Southern Transitional Council’s violations against journalists and the closure or prohibition of certain channels from operating or covering news in their areas of control.
This session concluded with a speech by Feras Hamdouni, Senior Program Manager at the DT Institute, who discussed the challenges and opportunities for cooperation among human rights organizations. Hamdouni explained that despite the limited external support for local organizations, many of them can continue to operate within available resources. He noted the extensive advocacy campaigns that have achieved significant successes in the field of human rights.
Hamdouni added that human rights advocacy organizations can benefit from international accountability mechanisms, such as the Universal Periodic Review and the special procedures of the Human Rights Council, to achieve justice and bring victims’ issues to the attention of the international community.
Participants emphasized the importance of journalists’ collective efforts to support their issues and rights in the face of violations.
To watch the full session, click here