30 August 2005
JOURNALISTS UNDER ATTACK
In Yemen, independent journalists are working in increasingly hostile conditions marked by intimidation, harassment and violent attacks, report the International Press Institute (IPI), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF).
The attacks come in the wake of turbulent riots over the government's lifting of fuel subsidies in July which left dozens of people killed.
In the latest incident, four men abducted Jamal Amer, editor of the weekly "Al-Wasat", on 23 August 2005 as he returned home from his office in the capital, Sanaa, says CPJ. The journalist said he was thrown into another car, beaten and accused of receiving funding from the U.S. and Kuwaiti embassies. One of the men warned him about defaming unspecified "officials." Amer said he was released about four hours later. He said he believed the car he was thrown into belonged to the Yemeni Republican Guard.
"Al-Wasat" has been a fierce critic of the Yemeni government and frequently publishes stories about corruption and government misconduct. A recent article listed the names of 56 students, with connections to high-ranking government officers, who have been awarded state-funded scholarships to study abroad, notes IPI.
The attack against Amer is the latest in a string of thefts, threats and violent attacks against journalists over the past year, CPJ says. Last week, burglars broke into the Sanaa office of The Associated Press and stole computers, a fax machine, and a camera.
In July, police assaulted and arrested several journalists covering the fuel price riots. Haji al-Jehafi, editor of the weekly newspaper "Al-Nahar", was wounded on 17 July when he opened a letter bomb addressed to him. Other journalists were attacked or had their equipment confiscated. Foreign media were prevented from sending news reports using Yemeni TV satellite stations.
In the aftermath of the riots, some journalists are still receiving harassing phone calls and threats warning them not to criticise the government.
Despite a lively and diverse press in Yemen, journalists often incur harsh penalties for reporting on sensitive topics. Yemen's 1990 Press Law bars criticism of the president and lists a wide range of vaguely worded offenses that can land a journalist in court and prison. Article 103 prohibits journalists and editors from publishing articles that "cause tribal, sectarian, racial, regional or ancestral discrimination" or "undermine public morals or prejudices the dignity of individuals or personal freedoms."
According to RSF, nine suspended jail sentences against journalists were issued by Yemeni courts in 2004.
In response to international criticism, the government has drafted legislation to amend the Press Law, including decriminalising press offences. IFJ has urged the government to consult the Yemeni Journalists' Syndicate on the draft legislation.
Visit:
- IPI: http://www.freemedia.at/Protests2005/pr_Yemen25.08.05.htm
- CPJ: http://www.cpj.org/protests/05ltrs/Yemen25aug05pl.html
- IFJ: http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?index=3278&Language=EN
- RSF: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=14766
- Amnesty International: http://tinyurl.com/d68r4
- BBC Reports on Fuel Price Riots: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4707145.stm
Read IFEX members' reports on Yemen:
- IPI: http://www.freemedia.at/wpfr/Mena/yemen.htm
- CPJ: http://www.cpj.org/attacks04/mideast04/yemen.html
- RSF: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=9932
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