Rights Groups Warn of Collapse in Journalist Protection in Aden Amid Security and Political Chaos
Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties has warned of escalating risks facing journalistic work in Yemen’s temporary capital, Aden, following an incitement campaign and direct threats against journalist Omar Al-Maqrami, a correspondent for Al-Araby Television. The threats were made via digital platforms and went as far as threatening kidnapping and torture.
The organization described these developments as a dangerous indicator of the deterioration of the media working environment, amid an effective absence of law enforcement and a rise in violations against journalists.
SAM stated that the campaign is based on documented materials and points to a systematic escalation that could turn into actual violence, given the complex security and political context, reinforced by the influence of armed groups and rival political actors in the city.
The organization stressed that failure to take urgent action against these threats could constitute a breach of Yemen’s legal obligations to protect journalists and ensure their safety.
SAM renewed its call for an urgent and transparent investigation to identify those responsible for the incitement, provide immediate protection for Al-Maqrami, and establish deterrent mechanisms to curb violence and incitement speech in the digital space, as a prelude to holding those proven to be involved accountable under the law.
The organization explained that the deterioration of journalist protection is not limited to physical attacks, but also includes harassment and verbal incitement targeting the right to freedom of expression and access to information, making Aden a model of pressure and tension on the press amid local conflicts and an explosive security climate.
These warnings come as attacks on media freedom in Aden continue, most notably the armed attack on the headquarters of Aden Al-Ghad newspaper, which resulted in injuries to several staff members and the destruction of the institution’s contents.
Earlier, the Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, affirmed that the state would not allow areas under its control to be turned into a hostile environment for journalism, warning against replicating the practices of the Houthi group, which have made areas under its control among the worst globally for journalists.
During his meeting with Aden Al-Ghad Editor-in-Chief Fathi bin Lazraq, Al-Alimi emphasized that press freedom is a fundamental state commitment and a key pillar in building modern national institutions, stressing the need to ensure the safety of media professionals and protect media institutions from any attacks or extortion, in accordance with Yemeni law, the constitution, and international standards.
