The WJWC 4 ^th Annual Reporton Press Freedom in Yemen 2008

Introduction :

This is the fourth edition of our Annual reports on the situation of press and freedom of speech in Yemen which reveals a miserable and gloomy situation of press freedom in terms of the number of violations that has dramatically increased from (53) in 2005, to (67) in 2006, to (112) cases in 2007 while the current report has included (284) cases recorded in 2008. Based on this scary high number of violations, the average of press violations is about 5 cases per week. Like previous editions, this year reports has recorded different types of press contraventions which varied from beating, arresting, kidnapping, jailing , banning press coverage, blocking access to information, preventing new accredits to new publications and abolishing previous permissions and blocking electronic news websites.

Moreover, it is worth to be noted that this report has included many violations of press which very much linked to the public peaceful protests in which some media people and correspondents have participated and being subject to various physical attacks and suppressions along with other civil protesters. Even in the peaceful protests and sit-ins, which were not suppressed by security forces, reporters were not save but got harassed and prevented from covering or filming these events and got their cameras confiscated by security people as they were, in both cases, found guilty of disseminating information according to the state. It was also noted that some press people were investigated and tried in same specialized courts in which the organizers of those protests mentioned above has been questioned.

This tight relation between the state suppression of the legal public marches and the synchronous violations committed against journalists leads to nowhere but to conclusion that freedom of speech and expression in its boarder meaning is endangered in Yemen regardless the means of expression used; whether media and press outlets or public protest activities and marches by civilians.

Based on that conclusion, observation and documentation of the violations of the freedom of speech should include all infringements and repressions of civil marches as they are means of expression like writing and reporting which would be considered in our future reports.

 

To conclude, we, at the Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) believe that although the current report of 2008bincludes different forms of violations which are likely the same as the previous editions of our series, especially the report of 2007, we also are very concerned about the deteriorating situation of freedom of speech in Yemen which seems to be more constrained and subject to endless violations and has a poor limited impacts. Not only pres freedom, but we believe that effective social participation in the social and political development of the country will remain absent and insufficient until new mechanisms and legislations are put together to guarantee the right to access and circulate information from different sources including official channels and institutions. Furthermore, believe of the significance of the formation of new creative press and printings law which allows the possession of audio- visual media facilities by citizens, parties and private entities and prevents the state monopoly and control over visual media. The new media law should permit the privatization of public or official media outlets to allow private media to evolve naturally and contribute to the development of the country.

Moreover, the active presence of free media and freedom of expression is very much related to the right to access and circulate information and the right to possess different media means including radios and TVs by public.

The future of freedom of speech and fulfilling national and public duties are subject to the obtaining of these above mentioned rights which should be on the top of the priorities of the institutional reforms that Yemen needs in its long way to achieve rational governonance.

Tawakkol Abdusallam Karman

Chairwoman of Women Journalists Without Chains

February, 2009.

Background :

Although the Yemeni constitution officially grants all the citizens "the right of expression via audio and visual means", only printed press are partially made available for public ownership in the practical terms. However, the year of 2008 has witnessed the prohibition of public from practicing their right of peaceful protests which were mostly encountered by state suppressions and the prevention of reporters to cover those public marches and their right to access and disseminate information. Further, the 2008 was a year of suspending the issuance of any new licenses for new publications by the Ministry of Information which has rejected numerous of applications submitted by professional and well-known journalists. It was pity that these applications for production of new publications remained for months without being reviewed or processed before the Ministry has decided to completely close the door against any further requests when the Minister stated that top level directives were received by the Ministry of Information to stop issuing any new publication license. Not only that, but the Ministry has canceled previous licenses like the abolishing of the licenses of the Al Sabah and Al Wassat newspapers which were suspended thanks to the wide public condemnation which brought the case to judiciary and finally a court verdict has canceled the decision of the Ministry and Al Wassat newspaper resumed publishing again. In addition, the Shoura newspaper, the mouthpiece of Public Forces Union Party, was duplicated by the state and their editing staff and reporters were called by the Ministry of information where they got intimidated and threatened for no reason but an internal administrative issue which the Ministry has nothing to do with!

In addition, the state reserved itself the right to solely monopolize the visual and audio media regardless the numerous demands and appeals of the press people, political parties and civil society organizations to the state to grant them the right to run and own such media facilities as per the constitution but the Ministry went on insisting to screen such facilities from public on the grounds that it's the sole body which has this privilege. It has further disallowed public institutions like the Ministries of education and tourism to have their own TV educational channels.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Information has cancelled the production of 21 radio stations in Hadramout and claimed that they were not permitted to broadcasting.

Within the same context of state policy to prevent the circulation of information, tens of independent and opposition news websites were blocked by the Ministry of Telecommunication upon the directives of the Information Minister. What made it easy to block these websites is monopoly of the online services by state company, Yemen Net, yet, most of the famous news websites are still blocked like Yemen Portal along with other 20 independent news websites because they do publish critical reports and views and expose financial and administrative corruption of the government.

Last but not the least, the Ministry of Information still banning the SMS mobile services including the "BIlA KOYOOD Mobile" which used to be a service produced by our organization, WJWC.

Observed Violations

1): 3/1/2008, the passport of journalist, Mohammed Al Maqaleh, the editor of Al Eshtiraqi net website, was confiscated at Sana'a Airport upon arrival from Syria on the grounds that he was banned from traveling.

2): 5/1/2008, the journalist, Nashwan Al Nethari, a reporter of Al Nass newspaper, was detained by the security forces of Ibb governorate while visiting some prisoners at the security prison who were detained for no legal charges.

3): 8/1/2008, the reporter of Al Gazira channel, was prevented from covering the trial of al Khiwani in the panel specialized court.

4-5-6): the trial of 3 journalists of Al Sharae newspaper, Mr. Naif Hassan, the editor-in-chief, and Mr. Nabeel Subeea, editing manager, and Mr. Mahmoud Taha, the newspaper reporter in Amran has continued in the case filed against the them by the Ministry of Defense on the grounds of publishing news stories about Sa'adah conflicts.

7. -8): 9/1/2008: Mr. Mohammed al Makaleh, editor of Al Eshtiraqi net, along with journalist, Fuad Mussa'ad, editing manager of Al Watani newspaper, were arrested by the Capital Secretariat Authority while conducting press coverage of the municipality chasing random street sellers in the capital Sana'a.

10): 9/1/2008: The Yemen on line news website was blocked by the Ministries of Information and Telecommunications for publishing a report issue by an organization, article 19 about the status of freedom of expression in Yemen.

11): 11/1/2008: Detention of journalist, Mohammed Al Azizi, the editor of Al Orobah newspaper, by the Municipality while conducting press coverage of the municipality chasing random street sellers in the capital Sana'a.

 12): 11/1/2008: Unknown people have opened fire on journalist, Zain Atiah, reporter of Al Ayam newspaper in Shabwah. However, security didn’t take any actions to investigate the case.

13): 12/1/2008: the journalist, Rashed Saif, the photographer of Saba News Agency was kidnapped and his camera and cell phone were confiscated and threatened by National Security personnel when the journalist was taking photos for some bridges in the capital Sana'a.

14): 12/1/2008: the reporter of Al Ahali newspaper, Saleh Al Suraimi, was arrested while covering the police chase of random street sellers in Sana'a.

15): 13/1/2008: Detention of journalist, Abdulhakeem Helal, reporter of Al Sahwa newspaper by security forces of the Capital Secretariat while conducting press coverage of the municipality chasing random street sellers.

16-17): 13/1/2008: a reporter of Al Jazeera TV Channel, Mr. Marwan Al Khaled and Mr. Akram Al Haini, a photographer of the channel were attacked by police and Air Defense forces while covering the reconciliation carnival in Aden.

18-19-20): 13/1/2008: Detention of Al Jazeera TV Channel staff; Mr. Ahmed Al Shalafi, a reporter, and Mr. Mohammed Al Said, the photographer along with Mr. Ali Hussein, a staff of the channel, in Aden Hotel by security forces to prevent them from covering the reconciliation festival in Aden..

21-22): 13/1/2008: Reporter of Al Ayam newspaper, Mr. Anis Mansoor, and journalist Fahmi Al Saqqaf were arrested by security forces while covering the reconciliation carnival in Aden.

23): 13/1/2008: the Hadramout news website was screened by the Information an Telecommunications Ministries after publishing some critical articles.

24): 15/1/2008: journalist Ali Mansoor, Media consultant of the Defense Minister, was arrested by political security in Sana'a for his writings in some newspapers and electronic sites which were in sympathy with the southern issue.

25): 16/1/2008: Detention of journalist Ezzat Mustafa by central security forces in Sana'a and his camera was confiscated while conducting press coverage of the municipality chasing random street sellers.

26): 17/1/2008: the Taif news website was blocked by the Telecommunications and Information Ministries for publishing critical political points of views.

27): 18/1/2008: The Information Minister has made inciting statements against journalists through the state-run Saba news agency and has unmistakably accused them of provoking disorder, rupture , spreading doctrine teachings and of threatening unity and stability of the country and violating personal freedoms and public ethics and of conducting irresponsible acts. The Minister stated that" The Authorities will not stand still against disloyal and irresponsible people who have their own agenda, the enemies of the country and its prosperity and development" according to the Minister. 

28): 20/1/2008: the first Yemeni search engine, Yemen Portal, was blocked by the Ministries of Information and Telecommunications for publishing critical political points of views.

29-39): 21/1/2008: Mass blockage of the following news websites; Free Yemen, Yemeni Council, Shabwah Press, Sons of South, News of the Hour, Al Muharer Net, The Times News, Hadramout Press, Sana'a Press, Al Shoura Net and Aden Press by the Ministries of Information and Telecommunications for publishing critical political points of views.

40): 28/1/2008: journalist Ayman Mohammed Nasser, editor of Al Tareeq newspaper was investigated by attorney of Shaikh Othman district for covering the reconciliation carnival in Aden.

41): 25/2/2008: Journalist Ms. Faika Al Said, was fined an amount of 1000.000 YR and sentenced to five months imprisonment by Al Tawahi Court in Aden after she has filed a case against the Aden Governorate Councilors whom she accused of physically attacking her while she was covering a session of the council in November 2007.

42): 2/2/2008: journalist Anwar Haidar, an editor of Al Moatamer net, was intimidated and threatened of canceling his name from the payment rolls by the office manager of the Culture Minister.

43): 3/2/2008: the cassette of an Islamic propagandist , Tawheeb Al Duba'ai, was confiscated and drawn from cassette shops by the culture office of Taiz on the grounds that the cassette includes lectures and criticism of corruption and violations of freedom and rights.

44-45): 4/2/2008: The cassettes of the Artists Fahad AlQarni and Mohammed Al Adhrua'ai were confiscated from cassette shops by the culture office of Taiz on the grounds of being included educational songs which criticize the corruption of the regime and violations of freedom and rights.

46): 5/2/2008: Al Ayam newspaper staffs were investigated by the publication and printings attorney of Aden after the Aden security has filed case against the newspaper for covering protest activities of the jobless workers.

47): 5/2/2008: Al Mustakela newspaper was insulted and accused of infidelity by 50 parliamentarians on the grounds that it publishes issues against morals and religion.

48-49): 6/2/2008: journalist, Mustafa Bedair, head of the journalist syndicate committee in Hodieda was attacked and journalist Mansoor Abu Ali, a reporter of Al Ayam was beaten and their cameras were confiscated by the security of the governorate while they were covering doctors' sit-in in the governorate.

 50): 8/2/2008: journalist Mohammed Al Assa'adi, reporter of News Yemen, was banned from attending the Shoura council session by the security officer of the Council.

51): 9/2/2008: the Yemen Portal searching engine was re-blocked by the Ministries of Information and Telecommunications for publishing critical political points of views.

52): 10/2/2008: the car of a staff of the Yemen Portal was smashed by unknown persons.

53): 12/2/2008: The house of Mr. Hisham Bashraheel, editor of Al Ayam newspaper was attacked by armed group who claimed ownership of the land where the newspaper premises were built after the newspaper has published stories on protesting activities.

54): 12/2/2008: Nass Press news website was blocked by the Ministries of Information and Telecommunications for publishing critical political points of views.

55): 16/2/2008: the Information Minister has led an initiative which controls and regulates the space audiovisual broadcasting in the Arab region and constrains the freedom of speech and monopolizes information access and prohibits criticizing rulers.

56): 25/2/2008: journalist Sameer Jubran, editor of al Massder newspaper, was summoned by the Ministry of Information and threatened of extreme punishment acts after publishing critical articles.

57): 25/2/2008: Ministry of Information ordered the printings house not to print the Sharea newspaper issue.

58): 25/2/2008: the car windows of journalist. Hakeem Al Massmari, editor of Yemen post was smashed by unknown people and no investigation was conducted by security.

59): 26/2/2008: Ms. Mirvat Abdulwassae, a reporter of the news department at the Yemen TV channel, was prevented from covering the opening session of the Youth Shoura Council by the security of the Council.

60): 3/3/2008: Mr. Ali Naji Saeed, journalist and reporter of Mareb Press and Al Balagh newspaper in Dhalae, was arrested in his camera confiscated by security people of Khour Makssar district while covering a sit-in in solidarity with the reconciliation festival in Aden.

61): 4/3/2008: Detention of Journalist, Ali Al Syagi, Ma'aeen district prison for doing press coverage to chasing of street sellers by the Municipality,

62): 4/3/2008: The Sabah Newspaper license was cancelled by the Ministry of Information for covering the restless events in the South.

63): 10/3/2008: The website of Al Eshtiraki net was blocked by the Ministries of Information and Telecommunications for publishing critical political points of views.

64): 10/3/2008: A reporter of the Sabah Newspaper was prevented from covering an event attended by the American Ambassador in Aden on the grounds that the newspaper license has been abolished.

65): 14/3/2008: The Information Ministry has officially announced the suspension of issuing new licenses on the grounds of receiving high level directives.

66): 15/3/2008: The camera of Ms. Khadeeja Bin Buraik, a staff of Al Ayam newspaper, was confiscated and she was threatened of beating by a female police officer while the journalist was covering the dismissal of a family out of their home in Krater, Aden.

67): 16/3/2008: The copies of first issue of Al Abwab journal were confiscated at Sana'a Airport on the grounds that the President photo on the cover is disgraced. 

68): 16/3/2008: The car windows of journalist Hafiz Al bukari were broken and his mobile got stolen by unknown persons.

69): 17/3/2008: Detention of Al Sahwa Net reporter in Ibb by escorts of the of Shaikh Al Ga'ashen while the reporter was covering a public sit-in organized by the displaced women of Anis.

(70-71): 17/3/2008: Trial of 2 editing staff of Al Wahdawi newspaper, Ali Al Saqqaf and Ahmed Saeed by the Printing Attorney in Sana'a after they have published a report on private land robbery in Hodieda.

72): 18/3/2008: Detention of Mr. Hassen Al Wadhaf, photographer of Al Hurra TV by security forces and his camera was confiscated while covering an explosion at the 7 ^th of July Girls School, next to the US Embassy in Sana'a.

73) 19/3/2008: Detention of Al Abwab Journal at the Sana'a Airport by the agent of Information Ministry for the 2 ^nd time on the grounds that it was printed in Dubai and it was licensed to be printed in Yemen.

74---83):22/3/2008: The Information Ministry rejected to give licenses to 10 newspapers as per the higher level directives it claimed. These newspapers were; Al Madina, Al Twasol, Al Tawseef, Al Tafaseel, Shababeek Journal, Al Assar, Al Sa'ah, Nissan and Al Fanoos newspapers.

84): 20/3/2008: All internet cafes in Sana'a were instructed to close at 12:00 am and to request the internet users to present their IDs whenever the want to use internet services.

85): 22/3/2008: Journalist Abdullah Qutran, of Al Nass newspaper, was attacked by the security forces while covering the fire in a hotel called Syedny in south of the capital Sana'a.

86): 22/3/2008: the websites of al Nahdha and Tagyeer by the Ministries of Information and Telecommunications.

87): 23/3/2008: journalist Fuad Al Nehari, reporter of Al Ayam newspaper in Dhamar, was investigated on the grounds of writing some critical articles against the governor of Dhamar.

88):23/3/2008: the reporter of Al Ayam newspaper, Abdulfatah Haidarh, was kidnapped and beaten up by five unidentified people who took him to unknown place out of Sana'a.

89): 23/3/2008: Al Thawra Printing house denied access to the printing of Alwa'a newspaper on the grounds of directives issued by the Ministry of Information.

90): 31/3/2008: the writer, Ali Hitham, was arrested by Aden security and deposited in political security prison for his writings in favor of the southern peaceful marches.

91-92-93): 1/4/2008: Arrest of the writers Ahmed Omar Bin Fareed, Ahmed Al Quma'a and Abbass Al Assal by the Aden security for their writings in favor of the southern peaceful marches.

94) 1/4/2008: reporter of Al Ayam in Lahj, Anis Mansoor, was threatened of murder by the political security people of Lahj for covering the southern marches.

95): 1/4/2008: writer and poet Saleh Saeed Baran, was intimidated and arrested in Mukalla for his writings and participation in the southern protests.

96): 3/4/2008: the chairwoman of the Women Journalist Without Chains (WJWC), Ms. Twakol Karman, was threatened of assassination along with her children via a telephone conversation from a mobile number (733189566) for her writings and participation in some of the southern protesting activities.

97): 5/4/2008: imprisonment of the comedian critical artist, Mr. Fahd Al Qarni, who was arrested and charged of inciting armed coup and insulting the president through his critical musical shows.

98): 5/4/2008: cancellation of the production license of the independent newspaper, Al Wassat by an official decree issued by the Ministry of Information.

99): 6/4/2008: attacking the reporter of Islam On Line website, Abdusallam Mohammed, by the security forces on the background of covering the southern protesting activities.

100): 6/4/2008: attacking the reporter of Mareb Press in Dhalae, Ali Naji Saeed, by the security forces on the grounds of covering the marches organized by the retirees' society in Dhalae.

101): 6/4/2008: arresting the reporter of Mareb Press in Taiz, Mr. Muneer Al Akhali, by the political security for covering the protest in solidarity with the imprisoned artist Fahd Al Qarni in Taiz.

102): 6/4/2008: threatening and chasing the poet, Fuad Al Hemiary, by the security forces for a poem he has delivered in a Joint Meeting Parties festival in which he has criticized the government. The poem was also got published in Al Assima newspaper.

103): 7/4/2008: attacking and arresting the reporter of Al Thawri newspaper, Mr. Ahmed Harmel, by the security of Dhalae while covering some protesting activities in Dhalae.

104): the reporter of Al Ayam newspaper in Dhalae, Mohammed Al Humaidi was arrested and his camera confiscated by the security of Dhalae while he was conducting a press coverage of the marches organized by the retirees' society.

105): 9/4/2008: blocking the website of Al Badeel Net, by the Information and Telecommunication Ministries on the grounds of publishing some critical articles to the government.

106): 14/4/2008: a reporter of Al Ayam in Radfan, Gazi Mohsen Al Al Alwai, was investigated by security for covering a sit-in in Lahj.

107): 15/4/2008: the government undertook an amendment to the penalty law and suggested the addition of some articles one of which permits the implementation of execution penalty because of an opinion or publishing and another article sentences up to 10 years in jail any body criticizes or refers to the President and other executive bodies.

108):16/4/2008: seizing the camera of the editor of Mareb Press website, Ahmed Ayidh by security personnel of the governorate while he was covering an explosion targeted a car belong to the security of Mareb.

109): 19/4/2008: forcible apprehension order was issued against the reporter of Al Ayam in Radfan, Gazi Mohsen by the security committee of Radfan for covering sit-ins in Lahj.

110): 22/4/2008: 2-month imprisonment sentence was announced by the court against journalist Mohammed Al Makaleh for laughing during the trial session of Al Khiwani while the reason was for his critical writings on corruption and sympathy with southern protests.

111): 26/4/2008: attacking and detention of journalist Hassen Al Zaidi by the capital security for picturing the diesel crisis and the queued cars.

112): detention of the reporter of Al Osboa'a newspaper, Yassin Hamed while covering a sit-in organized by University staff.

113):29/4/2008: attacking the manager of Saba News Agency office in Abyan, Fadhl Al Shaibi, by the deputy of the governor for covering a speech carnival in Abyan.

114): 19/4/2008: seizing the cassettes of artist Fahd Al Qarni by the security bodies of Hodieda on the grounds that the cassette includes criticism of the economic and political situations.

115): 29/4/2009: seizure of a students' publication at Ibb University by the security because it includes criticism of the corruption of the university.

116): 29/4/2008: instructing the Sharae newspaper not to publish some documents and evidences which expose the involvement of a company in smuggling diesel.

117): 5/5/2008: prevention of journalists from attending the first trying session of the French man who was accused of smuggling some Yemeni antiques.

118): 6/5/2008: suspending the printing of the Al Wassat newspaper by the Information Ministry who did instruct Al Majd Printing not to print it in spite of the verdict in favor of the newspaper.

119-125): 11/5/2008: collective summon of Al Wahdawi editor, Ali Al Saqqaf and his editing staff and journalists; Ahmed Saeed, Ashraf Al Reefi, Adel Abdulmogni, abdulrahman Al Mohammadi, Mua'ad Al Maktari and Ali Al Dhalaei by the south-west capital court without stating the charges of the summoned journalists.

126): 11/5/2008: arresting the secretary of Al Syassia newspaper and a staff of the 14 ^th of October, Nasser Bagareeb, by the political security of Aden without stating the charges against him.

127-128): 12/5/2008: blocking the websites of Al Muharer Net and Al Omah Net by the Ministries of Telecommunication and information for publishing critical articles against corruption and government policies.

129): 15/5/2008: blocking the website of Al Tageer Net by the Ministries of Telecommunication and information for publishing a storey about an assassination attempt targeted the former president of the ex-southern Yemen, Ali Nasser Mohammed outside Yemen.

130): 16/5/2008: blocking the website of Yemnat for its comprehensive audiovisual coverage of victims of the Khamis Mushait crematory in KSA.

131-133): 18/5/2008: blocking of the websites; Al Hadath, Shoura net and Shamsan news by the Ministries of Telecommunication and information on the grounds of criticizing the government policies.

134): 17/5/2008: attacking and seizing the camera of the reporter Al Thawra newspaper, Yahya Al Marhabi, by the escorts of the governor of Al Jawf while covering the process of governors polling.

135-137): 30/5/2008: seizing the documents and dismissal of the reporters of Al Ayam, Al Sahwa and Al Thawri newspapers by the armed people belong to an important personality while they were covering shooting fire incident in a mosque in Amran.

138): 1/7/2008: absence trail of the artist Fahd Al Qarani, by the court of south-west of the capital on the charge of insulting the president and inciting against the unity of the country which are the same charges he imprisoned for in Taiz at the same time.

139): trial of the editor of Al Neda newspaper, Sami Galib by the court of south-west of the capital in the case filed him by the deputy of Endowment Ministry, Orah sector, on the charges of publishing infringements of the pilgrimage agencies and poor reaction of the ministry towards it.

140): 2/6/2008: banning the reporters and correspondents various media outlets from covering the trial of three of the southern protests leaders.

141): 3/6/2008: arresting the distributor of Al Dyar newspaper in Aden because the issue included a poster calls for freeing artist Fahd Al Qarani.

142): 4/6/2008: preventing the journalists and reporters from attending the trail of artist Fahd Al Qarni in Taiz who was in jail for insulting the president.

143-144): 4/6/2008: detention of the editor of Al Dyar newspaper, Abed Al Hathri, and Qaid Al Saeedi for two hours by a military vehicle without stating justifications for the detention.

145): 8/6/2008: trail of Al Noor newspaper of the Islah party by the court of Githa, Mahra on the grounds of publishing articles on the corruption in the governorate.

146): 9/6/2008: sentencing the journalist Abdulkareem Al Khiwani to 6 years imprisonment by the criminal specialized court specialized in state security issues on the charges of ; conspiracy and of being a member of a terrorist cell. The jail and arrest of Al Khiwani came after series of critical writings in Al Shoura newspaper which has exposed many corruption files before it was suspended in 2005.

147): 11/6/2008: seizure of some issues of Al Dyar newspaper in Ibb and Taiz by the security of Naqeel Yaslah checking point on the grounds of being included critical articles against the government.

148-149): 19/6/2008: suspending the payments of 2 TV broadcasters; Yasser Al Mua'almi and Amel Al Ammari by the management of TV channel.

150-151): 18/6/2008: summon of the journalists; Abubaker Batheeb, editor of Al Thawri newspaper and Fathi Abualnser by the printing and publication attorney of the capital Sana'a to be investigated in the case filed against the newspaper for an article criticizing the judiciary independency.

152): 24/6/2008: threatening of the Ibb reporter of Al Wahdawi and Al Wahdawi net, Adel Omar, by armed citizens in Al Hadda after has attended the trial of an assassinator.

153): 27/6/2008: security chasing of the writer Saleh Bin Muhana and intimidating his family and kids in Haritha, Hadramout, by military vehicles which raided into his house without stating the reasons.

 154): 28/6/2008: beating up an editing staff of Saba news, Mustafa Nassr by a head of a zone in Sana'a while doing some press coverage.

155): 30/6/2008: arresting Mr. Luaai Al Muaayad, executive manager of Free Yemen website on the grounds of belonging to Huthis.

156): 30/6/2008: the Ministry of Information ordered the Al Ayam publishing foundation to cut off an article by Radad Al Salami titled "unwanted destiny" published in one of the journals it distributes, News week, Arabic edition, issue (418).

157): 2/7/2008: attacking and arresting the editor of Al Muharer newspaper, Sabri Bin Makhashin and confiscating his camera while he was covering a sit-in on protest of arrested students.

158): 7/72008: the Ministry of Information ordered the Al Ayam publishing foundation to cut off an article by Radad Al Salami titled "contradicting attitudes" published in one of the journals it distributes, News week, Arabic edition, issue (419).

159-161): 7/72008: arresting of 3 press people; the photographer of Al Jazeera TV, Ali Mansoor, the reporter of Al Hadath, Fares Al Jalal and Nashwan Al Othmani, the reporter of Mareb Press by the Aden security for covering a remembrance of the civil war of 1994.

162): 8/7/2008: threatening the reporter on Al Ayam newspaper in Taiz, Mohammed Al Aza'azi, by the director of the education office in Taiz on the grounds of reporting on involvement of some officials in leaking the high school examination papers.

163): 9/7/2008: sentencing the artist, Fahd Al Qarni to 18 months in jail by the court of Ta'azia in Taiz and fining him an amount of 500.000 YR on the charges of practicing critical musical shows.

164-165): 9/7/2008: arresting and seizing personal properties of Jaber Sabre of Mareb Press and Saleh Al Suraimi of Al Sahwa newspaper in the Taiz governorate diwan by the security forces on the background of covering a sit-in in solidarity with artist Fahd Al Qarni after the later was sentenced to 18 months in jail.

166-168): 9/7/2008: intimidating and firing to air and beating up the Taiz coordinator of WJWC, Assma Al Raei along with human Rights coordinator, Rafiqa Al Kuhali and confiscating their cameras and banners while participating in a sit-in in protest of the imprisonment of Fahd Al Qarni and the demand to release him.  

169): attacking and arresting the reporter of Al Ayam in Shabwa by the head of the security mission and his soldiers while the reporter was covering the suppression of a peaceful gathering by security in Shabwa.

170): 9/7/2008: attacking the reporter of Sahwa Net in Damtt, Ibb governorate, Mr, Nassr Al Musa'adi by the one of influential personalities while covering an armed confrontation in the district in the absence of any security investigating measures in the case.

171): 13/7/2008: the south-capital court rejected the suit filed by the journalists Fekri Qassim and Sadiq Al Shwiae against the Ministry of Information for not issuing licenses for the Hadeeth Al Madina and Shababeek newspapers.

172): 14/7/2008: the journalist Khaled Mohsen Dalaq was threatened and car windows were smashed by 3 unidentified persons.

173): 15/7/2008: attacking and beating up the editor of Al Muharer newspaper, Sabri bin Salmeen Bin Makhashen by the security of Mukalla, Hadramout on the grounds of following up and covering the leaking of high school examination papers in Mukalla.

174): 16/7/2008: threatening the reporter of Al Ayam newspaper in Lahj, Ahmed Abdulqader, by the manager of Al Shatt hospital on the grounds of covering a traffic accident.

175): 21/7/2008: detention and expulsion of the British journalist William Marx to Qatar without stating the justifications while the journalist was in press mission in Mareb. Two Yemeni guides who accompanied the journalist were also arrested.

176): 5/8/2008: the properties of the Al Muharer newspaper and Al Muharer net were stolen and filed were messed up at the newspaper premises in Mukalla by unidentified people after the newspaper and the website published news on the southern case.

177): 6/8/2008: threatening of assassination against the editing manager of the 26 ^th of September net, Abdulmuna'am Al Jabri, through SMS and telephone calls from different numbers and through a mail he has received.

178): 11/8/2008: attacking and seizing the camera of the reporter of Al Ayam in Hodieda, Mansoor Abdullah while he was covering the prevention of security forces the holding of the fifth conference of the teachers syndicate.

179): 11/8/2008: arresting the lawyer and writer, Dr. Mohammed Ali Al Saqqaf at the Sana'a Airport by the national security personal on the grounds of his writings about what's known ad as the southern case.

180): 12/8/2008: threatening the reporter of Al Wahdawi newspaper in Hajah, Dahan Al Shammari by some influential people in the governorate on the background of his critical writings on the corruption in the governorate.

181): 13/8/2008: diplocating the Jamaheer Newspaper produces by the Ba'ath Party, by the Minisrty of Information as there has been distribution of a newspaper with the same letter head but with a different editor-in-chief name.

182): the journalist Ms. Najla Al Ba'adani, reporter of Naba News in Taiz and her family were attacked by armed escorts of a government official after the Al Ba'adani has criticized the corruption of some officials in the governorate.

183): 17/8/2008: preventing the reporter of Al Ayam newspaper in Sana'a, Abdulfatah Haidarh, by the guards of the Parliament from attending a parliament session devoted for the voting on the elections law.

184): 19/8/2008: threatening the reporter of Al Wahdawi newspaper in Taiz, Mohammed Al Masoadi by the security of the Al Qa'ada district after the journalist has published different stories on the lack of security in the district.

185): 20/8/2008: banning the journalist Abdulkareem Al Khiwani from calling his family or his lawyer and preventing him from getting any newspaper by the management of the prison where he was imprisoned.

186): 21/8/2008: attacking the journalist Fares Abu Bara'ah and breaking his camera by dominant personality in Hajah on the grounds of picturing some views in the governorate.

187): 28/8/2008: attacking and kidnapping a TV photographer, Abdullah Qawza'a by armed group in Ammran while he was doing his mission with the Ministry of Local Authorities.

188): 29/8/2008: burning down the premises of Al Ra'ai Al Aam newspaper by unidentified persons after the newspaper has published some corruption files in which some government officials were involved.

189): 30/8/2008: imprisoning the manager of Saba news branch of Al Baidha, Mohammed Saleh Al Mashkhar at the governorate complex on the grounds of the delaying in publishing the news storey of the conclusion of the summer activities.

190): 18/9/2008: 18/9/2008: threatening of closing and burning Al Shumoa press foundation by dominant personality in Lahj after it has published articles on corruption of the governorate.

191): 20/9/2008: the editor of sout Al Janoob Forum, Abdulfatah Al Shunfrah, was imprisoned in the political security prison in Sana'a after being handed over by the Saudi authorities to Yemen. Al Shunfrah was arrested in KSA in July 14, 2008 and handed over to Yemen. His imprisonment is due to the charges of being an activist in favor of the southern case.

192): 22/9/2208: beating up the editor of Hiwar website, Abdulrasheed Al Faqeeh and confiscating his camera by the guards of the prime presidency while he was covering the sit-in organized by the families of the Sa'ada detained people.

193..213): 1/10/2008: the closure of 21 radio stations and seizing the broadcasting machines by the security forces of Tareem, Hadramout upon directives of the Information Ministry on the grounds of the lacking the official licenses required for broadcasting.

214): 16/10/2008: threatening the editor of Al Ayam newspaper, Hisham Basharaheel via SMS from mobile number (73349634) in which he was accused of separation and inciting against the security and unity of the country on the grounds of publishing articles and reports on the southern restless activities.

215): 28/10/2008: arresting the journalist, Nezar Al Abbadi, editing manager of Naba News on the grounds of publishing a news story about a dispute between the governor of Taiz and the general director of the political security in Taiz.

216): 31/10/2008: threatening the sport page editor in Al Wassat newspaper, Khaled Sha'afal of being fired of his post by the Deputy Minister of Sports after the journalist has written some articles criticizing the corruption of the ministry.

217): 2/11/2008: kidnapping and severely beating up the reporter of Al Ayam newspaper in Ammran, Abdulhafiz Mua'ajab who was taken to unknown place and his properties were sized including his camera, mobile, recorder and an amount of 35000 YR by the chief and security personal of a check point in Hajah while he was returning home from a press mission in Hodieda.

218): 3/11/2008: sentencing the reporter of Al Thawri newspaper in Radfan, Qaid Nassr, to 2-month imprisonment and fining him an amount of 20000 YR on the grounds of covering the sit-ins took place in Lahj and for his critical writings.

219): 5/11/2008: threatening of murder against the an editing staff member of Mareb News, Jabr Sabr by the former political security director and security officer in Damtt, Dhalae on the grounds of criticism article he has written on the security of the governorate.

220-221): 10/11/2008: detention of the reporter of Al Wehdawi net in Ibb, Adel Omer, and reporter Al Nedda newspaper, by the administration of Mawiah district while he was covering a protest in the district.

222): 11/11/2008: duplicating the Sout Al Shoura, issuing by the public forces league, as the markets witnessed a newspaper with the same letter head but with a different editor-in-chief in a repeated action similar to the duplication of the Al Shoura by the Information Ministry in 2005.

223): 12/11/2008: arresting the journalist and manger on Saba news in Sa'ada, Ali Al babli, as reaction to his refusal to accompany the governor to Sana'a to cover his participation in a meeting with the permanent committee of the ruling party.

224): 13/11/2008: seizing the films and recorders of the reporters and press people after attending an exceptional meeting for the permanent committee of the ruling party.

225): 19/11/2008: threatening of assassination against the reporter of Al Nass newspaper, Abdullah Qutran, if he didn’t apologize on what he have written about violating the right of a citizen who was expulsed out of the country.

226): 25/11/2008: detention of Majed Karoot, staff member of Al Baidha Press by the criminal investigation office of Al Baidha after he has written a critical article on the corruption of the Power Ministry in the governorate.

227): 27/11/2008: blocking the Mareb news website by the Ministries of Information and Telecommunication.

228): 27/11/2008: preventing any reporter or media person from covering the sit-in of the Joint Meeting Parties (opposition parties) in Sana'a.

229): attacking and preventing the reporter of Al Jazeera net from carrying out his press mission of covering a sit-in of the Joint Meeting Parties (opposition parties) in Sana'a.

    

230): brutally beating the reporter of Al Ayam newspaper in Sana'a, Abdulfatah Haidara by a military vehicle with plate number (7351) and confiscating his camera and mobile after covering the sit-in of the Joint Meeting Parties (opposition parties) in Sana'a.

231): beating up the first Journalists Syndicate Secretary, Sa'aeed Thabit by security forces while he was covering the sit-in of the Joint Meeting Parties (opposition parties) in Sana'a.

232): attacking the chairwoman of Women Journalsits Without Chains, Mrs. Twakol Karman while she was covering the sit-in of the Joint Meeting Parties (opposition parties) in Sana'a.

233): cruelly beating of the reporter of Al Sahwa net, Saleh Al surmi and seizing his camera while covering the sit-in of the Joint Meeting Parties (opposition parties) in Sana'a.

234): severely beating up the editing manager of News Yemen, Abdulsattar Bajash by the political security during his covering of a sit-in of the Joint Meeting Parties (opposition parties) in Sana'a.

 235-236): 26/11/2008: seizing forcibly the packages of the Al Ayam and Al Ayam Sport issues by unidentified armed group in Shabwa.

237-238): 27/11/2008: threatening of murder against the editor of Al Adhwa newspaper via a telephone conversation and burning down the newspaper distribution car.

239): 28/11/2008: preventing Al Ayam reporter in Taiz, Abdulmalik Al sheraae from entering the Taiz University to cover students' union solidarity event.

240): 30/11/2008: banning the journalist Abdulkareem Al Khiwani from traveling to Cairo by the Sana'a Airport authorities while on his way to attend a human rights conference.

241): 30/11/2008: preventing journalists and press people from attending a Joint Meeting Parties celebration on the Independence Day by the security authorities of Taiz.

242): 1/12/2008: threatening of closing the Yemen Post English newspaper by the Information Ministry on the grounds of publishing a study warns of the economic deterioration in Yemen.

243-244): 2/12/2008: investigating the editor of Al Massdar newspaper and summoning journalist Muneer Al Mawri by the Printings and Publications Attorney to be tried in three cases filed against the newspaper by the General People's Conference GPC, who accused the newspaper of insulting the president of the republic in an article published by the newspaper under the title "The Secret History of Yemen" written by Al Mawri.

245): 3/12/2008: threatening of murder and trying to kidnap the writer Nashwan Abdu Ali Ganem on the grounds of an article he has written on the impacts of the terrorist attack targeted the USA embassy in which he accused some political leaders of being involved in the operation.

246-247): 29/12/2208: arresting the editor of Al watani newspaper issuing in Aden, Wajdi Al Shua'aibi along with the reporter of Al Ayam in Toor al baha of Lahj by the Khor makssar police officers while they were in the Republican Hospital in Aden conducting a report on the bad health services provided by the hospital.

248): 31/12/2008: threatening the reporter of News Yemen in Ammran, Mahmoud Taha by tribal group after he has covered the trial of the murderer of the Yemeni Jewish Masha.