Yemen.. Media Freedom Observatory calls for halting trials in absentia of journalists in Aden

The Media Freedom Observatory called on the Yemeni government and the Southern Transitional Council to quickly stop the in absentia trials that the Specialized Criminal Court in Aden is arbitrarily holding against a number of journalists.

The Observatory said in a statement that it follows with deep regret and resentment the arbitrary practices to which journalists (Abdul Aziz Al-Majidi, Weam Al-Sufi, Ahmed Al-Dhabhani, Walid Tawfiq, Musab Al-Qudsi, Mukhtar Al-Wajeeh, Yasser Al-Maliki, Amrous Al-Samadi, Haitham Al-Nimri, Yassin Al-Alili) are being subjected, as the Specialized Criminal Court in Aden insists on continuing their trial in absentia, directing serious charges at them and considering them fugitives from justice.

He added that the Specialized Criminal Court in Aden Governorate is looking into the case filed against these journalists today, Sunday, regarding the killing of Brigadier General Adnan Al-Hammadi, commander of the 35th Brigade.

The Observatory continued, "The court's continued insistence on these measures raises deep concerns about media freedoms in Yemen, despite widespread appeals and condemnations by human rights organizations concerned with freedom of opinion, expression and human rights.

The Observatory said, “These procedures are incorrect, starting with the court’s lack of jurisdiction, and ending with accusing journalists of murder simply for mentioning the names of certain figures in their journalistic work or opinion writings. The journalists were exposed to great legal risks, even though the concerned parties did not consider these writings offensive or a personal threat, and did not file any complaints in this context.”

The Observatory renewed its condemnation of these practices, calling on the government and the Transitional Council to quickly stop these measures, which it said "aimed to narrow the space for media freedoms, and which contributed to the increase in the number of violations against journalists and media workers to more than two thousand and five hundred violations since 2015."

The Observatory called on the international community to take urgent action to support the rights of journalists in Yemen and ensure their safety, and to work to promote freedom of expression and defend a free press as a basic human right.