Latest news with #YemeniJournalistsSyndicate
Arab News
03-06-2025
- General
- Arab News
Houthis abduct 4 journalists, jail another for criticizing leader, says watchdog
LONDON: At least four journalists have been abducted and another jailed for criticizing the Houthis' leader, media watchdog the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Tuesday. Local reports claim freelance photographer Abduljabbar Zayad, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reporter Hassan Ziyad, Soorah Media Production Center director Abdulaziz Al-Noum and deputy head of the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate Walid Ali Ghalib were abducted between May 21-23. On May 24, the Specialized Criminal Court in the Houthi-held capital Sanaa sentenced Yemeni journalist Mohamed Al-Miyahi t0 18 months in prison for criticizing Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi online. Al-Miyahi was also ordered to sign a pledge not to resume his journalistic work and to pay a guarantee of SR5 million ($20,500), which he would forfeit if he continued to publish material critical of the state. Regional director of the CPJ, Sara Qudah, condemned the actions and said: 'The kidnapping of at least four Yemeni journalists and media workers and the sentence issued against Mohamed Al-Miyahi exemplify the Houthis' escalating assault on press freedom. 'We call on Houthi authorities to immediately release all detained journalists and stop weaponizing the law and courts to legitimize their repression of independent voices.' The Yemeni Journalists Syndicate also condemned the kidnapping, calling it an 'arbitrary campaign targeting journalists and freedom of opinion and expression.' A statement released by the organization said: 'The syndicate considers these abductions a continuation of the approach of repression and targeting of journalists and opinion holders, and a hostile behavior towards freedom of opinion and expression, holding the Houthi group fully responsible for the lives and safety of the detained colleagues.' Al-Miyahi has criticized the Iran-backed Houthis in a series of articles, broadcasts and social media posts. In his last article, prior to his abduction in September 2024 and enforced disappearance for more than a month, he accused the group of suppressing freedom of expression and 'not respect(ing) people and treat(ing) them like mindless and unconscious herds.' In January he appeared in court accused of 'publishing articles against the state.' The YJS called the trial a 'sham (…) where the verdict was read aloud by the judge from a mobile phone inside the courtroom, violating the most basic standards of fair trial procedures.' The CPJ accused the Houthis, who control Sanaa and govern more than 70 percent of Yemen's population, of running a 'parallel justice system (…) widely seen as lacking impartiality' and argued Al-Miyahi's prosecution violated Article 13 of Yemen's press law, which protects journalists from punishment for publishing their opinions.
Associated Press
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Yemeni Journalists Syndicate Secures Leadership Role in West Asia Journalists Union
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, February 21, 2025 (EZ Newswire) -- Nabeel al-Osaidy, a member of the administrative body of the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate, has been elected to the Executive Office of the West Asia Journalists Union. Al-Osaidy will also serve as the union's Financial Secretary-General for a three-year term. The election took place during the General Assembly meeting of the West Asia Journalists Union, which convened today in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. The gathering, held alongside the Saudi Media Forum, brought together representatives from 14 journalists' unions and syndicates. Also in attendance were prominent figures from the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), including Nasser Abu Baker and Jim Boumelha. In addition to al-Osaidy's election, the assembly saw Adhwan al-Ahmari, head of the Saudi Journalists Association, assume the presidency of the West Asia Journalists Union, while Fadila Al Muaini, head of the UAE Journalists Association, was elected as vice president. The West Asia Journalists Union aims to foster greater cooperation and solidarity among press unions and associations across the region. It plays a crucial role in shaping policies that uphold journalists' rights, defend press freedom, and advocate for human rights. The union also works to enhance professional standards, strengthen media collaborations, and engage with organizations sharing common interests in the field of journalism and information. In a statement to the Yemen News Agency (Saba), al-Osaidy underscored the significance of the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate's presence in the regional and international media landscape. He emphasized that this election reinforces the syndicate's commitment to defending press freedoms and advocating for Yemeni journalists on both regional and global platforms. Al-Osaidy also highlighted that the West Asia Journalists Union's program will align with the principles of the International Federation of Journalists and the West Asia and Pacific Journalists Union. He announced plans to develop an executive roadmap for the coming period, focusing on safeguarding journalistic freedoms and enhancing professional competencies. Expressing his gratitude, al-Osaidy commended the unwavering support of the International Federation of Journalists and regional press associations for their solidarity with Yemeni journalists during this phase.
