IFJ Condemns “Farcical Trial” of Yemeni Journalist in Houthi Prisons: “Sentence Read Over the Phone”
Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) issued a scathing statement on Tuesday, condemning the judicial ruling against Yemeni journalist Mohamed Dabwan Al-Miyahi by a Houthi-affiliated court in Sana’a, describing it as a “blatant violation of freedom of expression.” The Federation called on the Houthi group to “halt their systematic crackdown” on media professionals in areas under their control.
The statement reported that the Specialized Criminal Court, operated by the Houthis, on May 24, 2025, sentenced Al-Miyahi to one and a half years in prison and ordered him to pay a financial bail of five million Yemeni riyals (approximately 18,000 Euros). This sentence was issued in response to his publications and opinions shared on social media platforms.
The IFJ affirmed that the ruling represents the culmination of a repressive campaign carried out against journalists in Houthi-controlled areas, noting that the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate described the action as “revealing a systematic state of terrorism against media freedoms.” The IFJ also declared its solidarity with the syndicate’s demands for Al-Miyahi’s immediate release and an end to arbitrary practices against his colleagues.
The statement revealed disturbing details about the circumstances of Al-Miyahi’s arrest. He was abducted from his home in September 2024 by armed Houthi affiliates, then forcibly disappeared for months before being brought to a trial described as “farcical.” The IFJ highlighted that the verdict was announced via a voice recording played from a mobile phone inside the courtroom, violating the most basic standards of justice.
For his part, IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger stated, “Turning the judiciary into a tool to settle scores with criticism is a serious blow to media freedom. Al-Miyahi’s case is a stark reminder of the catastrophic deterioration of journalists’ conditions in Yemen.”
The Federation warned that such trials are merely one link in a long chain of repression, including intimidation and arbitrary arrests aimed at silencing dissenting voices. It demanded urgent action from the international community to halt these ongoing violations.
