Marsadak: Condemns Threats Against Journalists Al-Yousfi and Al-Rubaie

The Media Freedoms Observatory in Yemen strongly condemns the serious threats made against journalists Abu Bakr Al-Yousfi and Abdulrahman Al-Rubaie due to their media work and opinions expressed on social media platforms. The Observatory considers these threats a dangerous escalation that directly endangers the safety and lives of journalists and constitutes part of a broader pattern of systematic violations against press freedoms in Yemen.

Journalist and photojournalist Abu Bakr Al-Yousfi received a direct threat from an anonymous account, clearly intended to silence his voice and prevent him from continuing his journalistic work. Meanwhile, journalist Abdulrahman Al-Rubaie was subjected to incitement campaigns and public death threats by figures affiliated with the Houthi group, culminating in his name being included on a list arbitrarily labeled as belonging to “traitors and collaborators”, simply for exercising his right to free expression and working as an independent journalist.

The Observatory views these incidents as further evidence of the ongoing and systematic repression of journalists that has intensified since the end of 2024. During this period, the Observatory has documented over 2,000 violations against journalists and media workers, including 54 killings, with no perpetrators held accountable, a grim indicator of the prevailing culture of impunity.

These threats are not only attacks on the individuals involved but also strike at the heart of press freedom and endanger the future of independent journalism in Yemen.

Accordingly, the Media Freedoms Observatory:

• Holds the Houthi group fully responsible for the threats made against journalist Abdulrahman Al-Rubaie.
• Urge the security authorities in Taiz to take immediate and concrete measures to protect journalist Abu Bakr Al-Yousfi and ensure his physical and psychological safety.

In light of these alarming developments, the Observatory calls on all local and international organizations concerned with human rights and press freedom to take urgent action, exert real pressure to protect Yemeni journalists, and work to establish a safe and free environment that enables them to carry out their duties without fear of threats or violence.

Issued by the Media Freedoms Observatory  in Yemen
11 May 2025