The IFJ is disturbed by reports it has received on the climate for journalists and their sources in Mukalla and Hadramout, Yemen. Following evidence given in court by an alleged rape victim, the Prosecutor’s comment calling all the women in Hadramout prostitutes with bad manners gave rise to public demonstrations which were suppressed by riot […]
The IFJ is disturbed by reports it has received on the climate for
journalists and their sources in Mukalla and Hadramout, Yemen.
Following evidence given in court by an alleged rape victim, the
Prosecutor’s comment calling all the women in Hadramout
prostitutes with bad manners gave rise to public demonstrations
which were suppressed by riot police. Journalists who have
reported on the situation now feel threatened, and Fouad Bamthref,
director of broadcasting with Mukalla radio, has been arrested.
The IFJ is also concerned for the safety of the Hadramout
correspondents of the newspaper “Al-Ayyam”.
The IFJ believes that journalists and sources in the area who are
providing information on the situation to organs in Aden are being
targeted by the authorities in an attempt to prevent the news from
travelling out of the region. The IFJ is concerned that citizens
and journalists will feel unsafe if they report the situation to
the press.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to Yemeni authorities:
journalists and those who speak to journalists are direct attacks
on freedom of expression
journalists and citizens are free to comment on the situation in
the country free from harassment of any kind
that no journalist is attacked physically or legally for
exercising his/her profession
Appeals To
His Excellency Ali Abdullah Saleh
President
Sanaa, Republic of Yemen
Fax: +967 1 262 017
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
