Yemen intensifies media oppression

MEDIA CRACKDOWN: Yemen has banned several publications, blocked an opposition website and arrested a number of journalists.

Yemen's government has intensified its oppression of the media in recent weeks, banning the distribution of several publications, blocking a website and arresting a number of journalists, according to Reporters Without Borders.

The press freedom advocate group said on Thursday authorities in the impoverished country have banned the distribution of the monthly Abwab and weekly Al-Sabbah since March 14, both of which have been critical of the government.

The Information Ministry banned Al-Sabbah for its alleged failure to respect legal procedures when it was created, while Abwab's cover, which showed President Ali Abdallah Al-Saleh, was deemed to be disrespectful to the premier, Reporters Without Borders said.

Authorities have also blocked aleshteraki.net, the website of the opposition Yemeni Socialist Party, since March 12 without giving any explanation, the advocate group said.

In addition, the editor and a freelance journalist of the daily Al-Sharea have also been arrested and are being prosecuted for disseminating reports “liable to undermine army morale”, according to the group.

“The political tension should not be used as grounds for restricting press freedom,” Reporters Without Borders said.

“The government should allow dissident voices to be heard and should ensure respect for diversity of views. It is essential that these decisions are rescinded at once and that Al-Sharea’s journalists are guaranteed due process.”

Yemen has a history of restricting press freedom, especially publications critical of the government.

Last year the imprisonment last week of a website editor sparked weeks of protests by journalists and human rights groups demanding the right to a free press and calling for the immediate release of the jailed editor.

Yemen is currently ranked 143 out of 169 countries in Reporters Without Borders’ Worldwide Press Freedom Index.

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