#SaveYemeniJournalists

An Appeal on World Press Freedom Day- 3 May 2020

The International Observatory for Human Rights calls on Yemen to pardon the four journalists who are condemned to death and to release all media workers amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

Dear Sirs,

Journalism is not a crime, and it is not just to sentence four men to death simply for doing their job covering the civil war in Yemen. The International Observatory of Human Rights calls on you to immediately and unconditionally release the following journalists:

1. Abdul Khaleq Imran
2. Akram El Walidi
3. Harith Hamid
4. Tawfiq Al-Mansouri

We respect the independence of the Yemeni courts, but we appeal to you to reverse the death sentences of April 11, 2020 against these four journalists, and intervene to pardon them.
 
Since their arrest in 2015, these professional journalists have continued to suffer from documented torture and detention in life-threatening conditions which has caused their health to deteriorate.

The International Observatory of Human Rights calls on you to drop the charges against all 10 journalists who have been on trial, headed by Judge Muhammad Muflih, including the six journalists who were convicted in the case.

Although these six journalists have been sentenced for release they are deemed to be “half-free”, since they are obliged to appear daily at a police station for the next three years, and answer inquiries regarding their location and their activities in general. This is a clear violation of basic human rights. Therefore, we respectfully demand that this condition be dropped, so that they can restore their sense of normalcy.
 
More than 30 journalists have been killed in Yemen in recent years, while more than 200 media professionals have been arrested and subjected to unlawful torture and arbitrary

Currently, around 16 reporters are still in detention, although it is difficult to verify the numbers accurately in the current situation.
 
The International Observatory of Human Rights has obtained official documents, as evidence that some of the journalists have been used as bargaining chips, and have been exchanged with Houthi fighters detained by the authorities and representatives of the warring parties involved in the conflict.
 
Journalists, and media professionals, play an important role in reporting independently without fear or favour, especially within conflict areas. A free press is the foundation of any civilized country, and freedom of expression is an important factor in creating an accurate record of events and establishing confidence in the future of Yemen and its people.
 
Therefore, manipulating the rule of law to criminalize journalists for their work, by developing legislation restricting media freedom, defamation, or considering journalists as terrorists and spies, by expanding anti-terrorism laws, simply destroys confidence in the judiciary and the power of the ruling authority.
 
The ten journalists were forbidden from obtaining appropriate legal representation and enough time to spend with their lawyers since The International Observatory of Human Rights learned from private sources who attended one of the sessions that the trial did not follow the due process of law recognised by international tribunals.
 
The indictment prepared by the Public Prosecution in Case No. 40 of 2019 stated that it accused the ten journalists of broadcasting “news, data and rumours of a false and pernicious nature, and carried out crude advertising with the intention of weakening the defence of the people and weakening morale in general. Obstructing public security, creating a state of panic among people, and harming public interests.”

The public prosecutor requested that the “maximum possible punishment” be applied to these journalists in accordance with Articles 16 (which includes the maximum death penalty), 21, 103 and 136 of Yemen’s Law No. 12. No journalist should face execution for reporting news and the legal process should not be hijacked to make that possible.
  
The international community stands with the Yemeni people to overcome the “worst humanitarian crisis” resulting from the years of war and the Coronavirus pandemic. We the undersigned appeal to you to show compassion and save these four lives at a time when people look to you to lead them towards a path of hope. A gesture towards these four journalists and their families can send a message to the world that the leadership in Yemen respects the value of life and freedom of expression.

And since we are in the blessed month of Ramadan, Yemen has a great opportunity to show the world the tolerance, humility, and mercy that Islamic teachings encourage, instead of facing condemnation from the international community and from organizations concerned with freedom of the press because of this brutal act.
 
We the undersigned urge you to act now, and to release the four journalists and all innocent media professionals in Yemen.
 
Yours sincerely,

Valerie Peay
Director of The International Observatory of Human Rights

Signatories: