Yemen.. Human rights organization documents 75 violations against press freedom during the year 2024

Women Journalists Without Chains ( WJWC ) announced the documentation of 75 violations against press freedom in Yemen, most of which were committed by the Houthi militia during the past year 2024 AD.

The organization said in its report (Freedom of the Press in Yemen 2024: A Bitter Reality and a Dark Horizon): “Freedom of the press in Yemen still faces a major threat, as 75 violations against journalists have been documented during the past.”

According to the organization, these violations include: (execution, attempted assassination, kidnappings, arrests, and other violations), which highlights the great risks faced by journalists in war-torn Yemen.

The report indicated that Yemen is one of the most dangerous countries for media workers, as journalists are treated by the parties to the conflict as enemies who must be silenced.

The documented violations during 2024 included (24 cases of arrest and kidnapping, 21 cases of trial and summons, and 12 cases of threats and incitement. Other violations included cases of torture and assault, storming of journalistic institutions and journalists’ homes, attempted murder, deportation and prosecution, preventing visits and deprivation of health care, stopping salaries, violating privacy, and preventing people from practicing the profession).

The organization stated that the Houthi militia bears responsibility for about 42% of these violations, while the security forces affiliated with the internationally recognized government bear responsibility for 32%, and the Southern Transitional Council was involved in 14% of the violations, and the responsibility for the rest of the violations was distributed between unknown individuals, an Arab country, Al-Qaeda, and a media outlet.

The organization explained that journalists in Yemen are only doing their job in documenting events, but they are treated with hostility and targeted without deterrence. It added that these systematic violations must stop, and those responsible must be held accountable.

She pointed out that over the past decade, Women Journalists Without Chains has recorded 1,732 violations against journalists, including 52 killings, numerous cases of arrest, torture, and attacks on media institutions. The organization described this period as one of the darkest periods for press freedom in modern history.

The organization called on all parties in Yemen to respect freedom of the press and release arbitrarily detained journalists. It also called on human rights organizations to intensify their efforts to protect media professionals and ensure that perpetrators of violations are held accountable.