The War on Journalists in Yemen: A New International Report Reveals Horrific Abuses Since 2014
Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
A recent report by Human Rights Watch has revealed systematic and grave violations against journalists and media freedom in Yemen since the outbreak of the armed conflict in 2014.
The report noted that all warring parties, including the Houthi group, the Yemeni government, and the Southern Transitional Council (STC), have committed serious abuses against media workers, ranging from arbitrary detention and torture to murder.
Dangerous and Inciting Statements
In 2015, the leader of the Houthi group, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, stated in a televised speech that “media personnel are more dangerous than traitors and mercenaries.” This served as a clear signal for the start of a repressive campaign against journalists. Dozens of journalists have since been subjected to abuses including unlawful detention, enforced disappearance, death threats, and the forced seizure and closure of media institutions.
Painful Stories of Journalists Tortured
Mohammed Al-Salahi, a journalist from Taiz who was arrested by Houthi forces in Hudaidah in 2018, recounted horrific details of his torture, saying, “They beat me with cables, suffocated me, hung me up for long periods, and threatened to execute my colleagues.” The report also revealed cases of journalists’ families being held hostage to pressure them, such as what happened to Mayas Maher, the brother of journalist Ahmed Maher, who was detained by STC forces in 2022.
Targeting Media Institutions
The Houthi group has seized control of major media institutions in Sana’a, including the official news agency Saba and Al Jazeera channel, while the STC has taken control of media outlets in Aden and the southern governorates. Journalists reported being monitored and harassed at checkpoints, forcing some to use pseudonyms or change their profession in official documents to avoid arrest.
Death Toll and Missing Persons
Human rights organizations have documented the killing of 63 journalists between 2015 and 2023, while the Committee to Protect Journalists confirmed that 26 journalists have been killed since the start of the conflict, some in airstrikes by the Saudi and Emirati-led coalition.
The report called on all warring parties to immediately cease these violations, release detained journalists, and guarantee freedom of expression. It also urged the international community to pressure for an end to these abuses and to hold those responsible accountable. The report concluded that the continued targeting of journalists in Yemen constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and undermines any hope for achieving lasting peace in the country.
