(19) Cases of violation of media freedoms, Feb2025

The Media Freedoms Observatory in Yemen released its monthly report “Infographic” on the status of media freedoms and the arbitrary practices against journalists and media outlets, documented (19) cases of of violations .

The violations recorded by the Observatory have varied 3 cases arrests and 16 cases the Tow prosecution of journalist over media activit.

The Observatory recorded violations in the governorates of Sana’a, Aden, Al-Dhali, Taiz, Hadhramaut.

Houthi group Reject Appeal of Journalist Taha Al-Maamari’s Death Sentence

The Specialized Criminal Court affiliated with the Houthi group in Sana’a has rejected the appeal submitted by the lawyer of the owner of Yemen Digital Media and Yemen Live companies. The court upheld the death sentence issued against him on September 24, 2024, and ordered the confiscation of his assets in favor of the Houthi group.

On February 4, 2025, a new verdict was unexpectedly issued against 14 journalists, photographers, and employees who had worked for the Yemen Digital Media company. They were charged with fabricated accusations lacking any real evidence, in a move aimed at prosecuting them in absentia as part of a broader campaign of intimidation and the takeover of media outlets.

The Houthi group had raided the headquarters of Yemen Digital Media Company in September 2021, placing it under judicial custody before later looting the company and seizing its documents.

This is part of a series of repeated violations against journalists. The group had previously issued death sentences against journalists Yahya Al-Jubaihi, Tawfiq Al-Mansouri, Abdul Khaleq Imran, Akram Al-Walidi, and Harith Hamid, in a blatant violation of press freedom in areas under its control.