The Yemeni Journalists Syndicate released its third quarterly report on press freedom in Yemen, documenting several violations that confirm the continued hostile environment facing the press and journalists in Yemen.
| Types of violations | Number | Percentage | |
| Deprivation of freedom | 7 | 35% | |
| Imposing censorship and restrictions on journalists | 4 | 20% | |
| Threats and incitement | 3 | 15% | |
| Attacks | 2 | 10% | |
| Interrogation | 2 | 10% | |
| Cruel treatment | 1 | 5% | |
| Website hacking | 1 | 5% | |
| Total | 20 |
The Syndicate documented 20 violations against media in Yemen from July 1 to September 30, 2023. The violations included 7 cases of deprivation of freedom, such as detention and arrest, representing 35% of the total breaches, and 4 cases of imposing restrictions and censorship on journalists (20%).
The Syndicatedocumented 3 cases of threats and incitement (15%), two cases of assault (10%), two cases of interrogation (10%), one case of cruel and illegal treatment (5%), and a case of website hacking (5%).
Perpetrators
The UN-recognized government authorities committed 12 cases of violations, representing 60%, of which the Southern Transitional Council, a government partner, committed 50% of the violations. The Houthi group committed 5 cases, (25%) as itimposed an iron fist on areas under its control and paralyzed the journalistic activity. Unknown persons committed three cases of violations (15%).
Four detained journalists
4 Yemeni journalists are still detained. The Houthi group detainedtwo journalists, Wahid Al-Sufi, and Nabil Al-Sadawi. The Southern Transitional Council detained journalist Ahmed Maher in Aden and journalist Mohammed Qaed Al-Muqri has been disappeared by Al-Qaeda in Hadhramautsince 2015.Detainees live under miserable conditions and are deprived of the right to medical care, visits, and a fair trial.
The Syndicate recorded 4 cases of restrictions and censorship imposed on journalists, of which the Houthis committed two cases, while the Southern Transitional Council, a government partner, committed two cases.
These restrictions and censorshipinclude searching journalists’ cameras and phones, deleting photos and clips that the Houthi authority did not approve, closing one media office, and imposing administrative restrictions on journalists working in Aden province.
The Syndicate documented 3 cases of threats and incitement against journalists, including two cases of murder threats and one case of incitement.
Report indicators
– The state of impunity for all perpetrators of crimes against journalists continues, and the various authorities keep abandoning their legal and moral responsibility towards these crimes.
-The decrease in the rate of violations in Houthi-controlled areas compared to previous periods does not indicate an improvement in the conditions of press freedoms in these areas. However, this indicates that journalists are not allowed to practice their work, and the free press has stopped to exist.
– Violations continue in government-controlled areas without taking any measures to prosecute and punish the perpetrators.
Recommendations
The Yemeni Journalists Syndicate calls on the Yemeni government anew to investigate cases of violations against journalists in areas under its control, provide a safe environment for journalistic work, release journalist Ahmed Maher, and work to uncover the fate of journalist Muhammad Qaid Al-Maqri, who has been disappeared since October 2015.
The Syndicate calls on the Houthi group to release the kidnapped journalists Wahid Al-Sufi,An employee at the Saba Agency, Nabil Al-Sadawiand end its crackdown on journalists in areas under its control.
-Increased restrictions imposed on journalists in Aden and the intervention of a Southern Transitional Council body to grant licenses for journalistic work in Aden.
-The Syndicateurges the Southern Transitional Council in Aden to stop imposing restrictions on the work of journalists in Aden, and calls on the Council to hand over the syndicate’s headquarters that was taken over in February this year.
