(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has condemned the abduction and beating of Jamal Amer, editor-in-chief of the independent weekly “al-Wassat”. On the night of 22 August 2005, Amer was kidnapped outside his home by gunmen using a Presidential Guard vehicle. He was questioned about his work and beaten before being released seven hours later. “Although President Ali […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has condemned the abduction and beating of Jamal Amer, editor-in-chief of the independent weekly “al-Wassat”. On the night of 22 August 2005, Amer was kidnapped outside his home by gunmen using a Presidential Guard vehicle. He was questioned about his work and beaten before being released seven hours later.
“Although President Ali Abdullah Saleh has voiced support for press freedom on several occasions, the independent news media continue to be subject to frequent harassment in Yemen,” RSF said. “This case serves as a reminder that it is still very difficult to work as an independent journalist in this country and we call on the Interior Ministry to conduct a thorough investigation in order to identify those responsible.”
Amer told RSF he was kidnapped by gunmen waiting outside his home in the capital, Sanaa. He said they forced to him to get into their Presidential Guard vehicle and drove him blindfolded to an isolated location outside the city. He remembers having changed vehicles but does not know where they took him.
Once there, his abductors questioned him about his colleagues at the newspaper. They also ordered him to reveal the sources of some of his articles and warned that he could be subject to further reprisals. They beat him up before releasing him seven hours later.
Back in the capital, Amer immediately filed a complaint with the Interior Ministry, but the authorities have taken no action.
“Al-Wassat” recently carried several articles criticising the government. One was particularly critical of last month’s crackdown on protesters during the riots over fuel price hikes in which 22 people died.
