“Yemeni Journalists Syndicate”: Houthi Trial of Al-Mayahi in Exceptional Court Is a Crime Against Freedom of Expression
Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The Yemeni Journalists Syndicate has firmly rejected the planned trial of journalist Mohammed Al-Mayahi before the Houthis’ Specialized (Exceptional) Criminal Court, set to begin next Monday—nearly eight months after he was abducted by the group over an issue related to freedom of expression.
In a statement issued Thursday, May 10, 2025, the syndicate asserted that such courts “fail to meet the most basic standards of justice,” describing Al-Mayahi’s trial as a blatant assault on the right to free expression and press freedom.
The statement noted that these exceptional courts strip journalists of the guarantees of fair legal defense, and—based on previous experience—are often used to criminalize journalism and issue harsh sentences, including the death penalty, without allowing lawyers to properly perform their legal roles.
The syndicate called on international media freedom organizations, particularly the International Federation of Journalists and the Arab Journalists Union, to take urgent action in solidarity with Al-Mayahi and to pressure for his release, along with all journalists arbitrarily detained in Yemen.
It also renewed its demand for the release of fellow journalists Waheed Al-Sufi and Nabil Al-Saddawi (detained by the Houthi group), and Nazih Shakir (abducted by the Security Belt Forces in Aden).
The syndicate warned that the continued use of exceptional courts to prosecute journalists further deepens the crisis of free expression in the country and sets a dangerous precedent for targeting media professionals under vague legal pretexts.
It reaffirmed its full solidarity with Al-Mayahi and his colleagues and expressed its readiness to provide all forms of legal and professional support.
It is worth noting that Al-Mayahi was abducted by unidentified parties eight months ago. International organizations continue to rank Yemen—particularly under Houthi control in the north—as one of the most dangerous environments in the world for journalism due to escalating violations by all parties to the conflict.
