Yemen.. Media Observatory Documents Nearly 100 Violations of Media Freedoms in 2024

A report issued by a media observatory revealed the documentation of 98 violations against media freedoms in Yemen during the year 2024 AD.

The Media Freedoms Observatory (Marsadak) said on Wednesday that it documented 98 violations against media freedoms in Yemen during the past year, which varied between (execution, arrest, assault, threats, detention, and illegal trials). The most prominent of these violations was Al-Qaeda’s admission of the execution of journalist Mohammed Al-Maqri, who had been missing in its prisons for more than nine years, which was a shock to his family who had hoped for his release or to know his fate.

The observatory added that it documented 15 cases of arrest, 6 cases of temporary detention of journalists before their release, 3 cases of assault, 17 cases of threats, in addition to 40 cases of interrogation and trials before unauthorized bodies, most notably the issuance of a death sentence by a Houthi court against journalist Taha Al-Maamari and the confiscation of his property without legal basis.

He also pointed out that media institutions were targeted with 6 violations, including the bombing of the "Raymah" and "Hodeidah FM " radio stations by American aircraft, and 9 other violations.

Regarding the parties involved in the violations, the Observatory accused the Yemeni government and allied parties of committing 57 violations, followed by the Houthi group with 27 violations. It also documented 3 violations by influential people, one violation by Al-Qaeda, two violations by US aircraft, 3 violations by unknown parties, and 5 violations by other parties.

According to the report, Aden topped the list with 27 violations, followed by Sana'a with 25 violations, then Taiz with 14 violations, 9 violations in each of Hadhramaut and Marib, 7 violations in Shabwa, 2 violations in Hodeidah, and one case in each of Al Mahrah, Al Bayda, Raymah, Dhamar, and Amran.

The report stressed that the continued impunity encourages the escalation of violations against journalists in Yemen, as they are thrown into serious cases without evidence or fair trials, pointing out that the security and judicial authorities are being exploited to serve the conflicting parties, which has led to the violation of local laws and international treaties related to freedom of the press and human rights.

The observatory indicated that it documented nearly 2,600 violations against journalists in Yemen over the past ten years, with the Houthis being the most violators of press freedom with 1,881 violations, including blocking more than 200 news websites, making areas under their control devoid of independent or opposition media. It was followed by the Yemeni government, whose areas have become dangerous, with 342 violations.

The Observatory called on the international community and human rights organizations to pressure the Houthis to release the kidnapped and forcibly disappeared journalists (Wahid Al-Sufi, Mohammed Al-Hatami, Nabil Al-Sadawi, and Mohammed Al-Mayah), and the legitimate government to release the journalists (Naseh Shaker and Ahmed Maher).

The Observatory concluded its report by stressing the need to hold accountable those responsible for the violations, and to respect international conventions to ensure a safe environment for journalists in Yemen.