(CPJ/IFEX) – On the morning of 13 December 1997, Nabil al-Amoudi, a reporter for the biweekly newspaper “Al-Ayyam” in Abyan governorate, was detained by agents from Yemen’s Political Security (PS) in the town of Zinjibar, after being summoned to PS headquarters the previous evening. To the best of CPJ’s knowledge, he continues to be held […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – On the morning of 13 December 1997, Nabil al-Amoudi, a
reporter for the biweekly newspaper “Al-Ayyam” in Abyan governorate, was
detained by agents from Yemen’s Political Security (PS) in the town of
Zinjibar, after being summoned to PS headquarters the previous evening. To
the best of CPJ’s knowledge, he continues to be held without charge and is
reported to be in poor health, suffering from malaria. Local press accounts
indicate that he had been temporarily transferred to a hospital for
treatment on 15 December but was returned to detention the following
morning by security agents. CPJ has also learned that prior to his
detention, al-Amoudi had received threats from PS agents in October, warning him
against his continued work for “Al-Ayyam”.
Background Information
Authorities confiscated some 4,000 copies of the 19 November issue of
“Al-Ayyam” in the towns of Al-Mukallah, Seyun, and Ashahr. This action
appeared to be related to two front page stories about recent government
arrests of oppositionists. (See IFEX alert 25 November 1997) In July 1997,
two other journalists from “Al-Ayyam” were detained by security officials.
(See IFEX alert 31 July 1997).
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the President:
because of his work as a journalist
“seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and
regardless of frontiers,” as guaranteed by Article 19 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights
attention, and unless he has been charged with an offense deemed criminal by
international standards, to order his immediate release
Appeals To
His Excellency President Ali Abullah Saleh
Sanaa, Republic of Yemen
Fax: +967 1 246 201or care of the Yemeni diplomatic representative in your country
In the United States:
His Excellency President Ali Abullah Saleh
c/o His Excellency Ambassador Abdulwahab Al-Hajjri
Embassy of the Republic of Yemen
2600 Virginia Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20037
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
