Parties to the conflict in Yemen continue to commit serious violations that undermine the civil and human rights of all citizens, including journalists, human rights defenders and activists. The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) calls on all parties to respect freedom of expression and basic human rights in Yemen, and to put an end to the practice of arresting, attacking and threatening journalists, as well as detaining them after the end of their sentence.
Journalist Majali Othman Al-Samadi loses appeal and suffers second attack
On 31 December 2023, the Court of Appeal in Sana’a issued its ruling in the case of journalist Majali Othman Al-Samadi, accepting the Ministry of Information’s appeal in form and content and canceling all items of the initial ruling.
His lawyer, prominent human rights lawyer Abdulmajeed Sabra, stated on his Facebook page, “The president of the court, Abdulkarim Al-Mansoor, did not content himself with reading the unjust ruling that contravened the axioms of the constitution and the press and publications law, which guaranteed freedom of opinion and expression, but he added the phrase that those present in the courtroom heard, which shows racism towards journalist Magali Othman Al-Samadi and great bias with the Ministry of Information, when he said to him: ‘You do not have the right to be a journalist and own a radio station.’”
Al-Samadi is the founder and director of “Voice of Yemen” radio, which was suspended from broadcasting on 25 January 2022 by the Ministry of Information in Sana’a, which is affiliated with the Houthi group. He filed a complaint with the judiciary, and the Press Court issued on 24 December 2022, a preliminary ruling in his favour including the following items:
- Cancelling the negative administrative decision of the Ministry of Information’s refusal to issue a license to Majali Othman Al-Samadi for the radio owned by him called Voice of Yemen Radio;
- Obliging the Ministry of Information to issue a license for him and on behalf of Voice of Yemen Radio;
- Rejecting all defenses presented by the Ministry of Information’s lawyers for malicious intent;
- Obliging the Ministry of Information to compensate him for the rent of the radio headquarters and the salaries of its employees, in an amount of seven hundred thousand Yemeni riyals for each month from the date of the radio’s closure in February 2022 until the date of rebroadcasting and issuing the license;
- Obliging the representative of the Ministry of Information to return the broadcasting equipment of Voice of Yemen Radio to the condition it was in at the time it was taken, and to reject the confiscation request;
- Rejecting the rest of the compensation requests due to the inability of the applicant to prove their validity;
- Obligating the Ministry of Information to pay him litigation expenses amounting to five hundred thousand riyals.
The Ministry of Information refused to implement the initial ruling and appealed it.
On 01 January 2024, Al-Samadi posted on his Facebook page about “a new assault I have now been subjected to by three people in front of my house.” The photos he attached with the post showed that he suffered several bruises and injuries throughout his body, and his personal car was also destroyed.
GCHR had documented Al-Samadi being subjected to a previous similar attack on 24 August 2023.
Once again, GCHR declares its full solidarity with journalist Majali Al-Samadi and calls on the de facto government in Sana’a, the Houthi group, to identify the parties that are planning and carrying out the malicious attacks against him and bring them to justice, in addition to providing him with full protection as he carries out his independent journalistic work, and to immediately give a license to Voice of Yemen Radio to start working again.
Judge Abdulwahab Qatran arrested
On 02 January 2024, the Houthi group arrested retired judge Abdulwahab Qatran, after raiding his home located in the capital, Sana’a. Informed local sources confirmed that he has been detained since his arrest in a solitary confinement cell at the Security and Intelligence Service. He has been prevented from communicating with his family and his lawyer, raising fears that he may be subjected to torture.
The day before his arrest, on 01 January 2024, he posted the following tweet on his X account (formerly Twitter), “The eyes of the cowards do not sleep, our full solidarity.” He was declaring his full solidarity with journalist Magali Al-Samadi after his second assault. Press reports stated that this tweet and his use of his X account to criticise the Houthi group were the reason for his arrest.
GCHR declares its full solidarity with Judge Abdul-Wahab Al-Qatran, and urges the de facto government in Sana’a, the Houthi group, to release him immediately without conditions, and to refrain from harassing him.
Journalist Naseh Shaker kidnapped
On 19 November 2023, journalist Naseh Shaker disappeared while passing through the city of Aden on his way to travel through Aden International Airport to participate in a training course held outside the country.
Informed sources confirmed to GCHR that the last contact between him and his family took place on the morning of his disappearance, after which contact with him was cut off.
Shaker is an independent journalist based in Sana’a. He regularly contributes his writing to many international news outlets, focusing on the humanitarian costs of the war on children and innocent civilians in Yemen.
GCHR expresses its deep concern over the disappearance of journalist Naseh Shaker for a period exceeding seven weeks. The GCHR holds the Southern Transitional Council, which has security control over the city of Aden, responsible for announcing his place of detention as well as preserving his life.
Seizure of the headquarters of the YJS branch in Aden continues
In a meeting held by the Council of the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate (YJS) on 14 December 2023, the Council condemned the seizure by the Southern Media Syndicate affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council, by force of arms, of the union’s headquarters in the city of Aden. The Council reiterated its call on all Yemeni authorities to “do their work to protect rights and property by activating the applicable laws that prevent attacks on the property of others, punishing aggressor perpetrators, and deterring them with the force of law.”
GCHR denounces the use of weapons to seize the headquarters of the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate, and calls on the local government to enforce the law and return the headquarters to the union, while arresting the assailants and referring them to court.
