Yemen Monitor/Exclusive:
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called on the Houthi group to release two journalists who were kidnapped in September by armed men affiliated with the group in Sana’a.
In a statement, the IFJ said that the Houthi group kidnapped journalist Mohammed al-Miyahi on September 20 in the capital, Sana’a, two days after he published an article criticizing the group.
The journalist and member of the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate, Fouad al-Nahari, was also kidnapped in late September.
The IFJ joins its affiliate, the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate, in calling on de facto authorities and other armed groups to immediately release al-Miyahi, al-Nahari, and all journalists unjustly detained in the country.
An armed group raided al-Miyahi’s apartment in Sana’a and seized some of the journalists’ electronic devices before forcibly taking him from his home on September 20. In a statement, the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate expressed deep concern about al-Miyahi’s unknown fate and the harsh conditions he is enduring simply for carrying out his professional duties.
In late September, the Houthi group also kidnapped journalist and member of the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate, Fouad al-Nahari, and no further details have been revealed about his disappearance or current situation to the IFJ.
The intensive kidnapping campaign comes amid preparations for the celebration of the 62nd anniversary of the Glorious September Revolution on September 26, which led to the establishment of the Arab Republic of Yemen.
The IFJ drew attention to the arrest of a number of journalists in Yemen for a long time by the warring parties in the country, and held them responsible for the safety of media workers detained unjustly.
The Houthi group has kidnapped journalists Wahid al-Sufi, Nabil al-Saadawi, and Fahd al-Arhabi since April 2015, September 2015, and June 2023, respectively. Reports indicate that journalist Mohammed Qaed al-Maqri has been missing since October 2015 in Hadramaut region, which is under the control of Al-Qaeda. The Southern Transitional Council has also detained other journalists, Ahmed Maher and Nasr Shaker, since August 2022 and November 2023, respectively.
The IFJ and the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate continue their campaign to demand the release of Yemeni journalists.
IFJ Secretary-General Anthony Bellanger said: “We strongly condemn the poor working environment and climate of fear experienced by journalists and media workers in Yemen, which puts their safety at risk. Our colleague Mohammed al-Miyahi is the latest kidnap victim in a long list of journalists who must be released immediately and unconditionally. We call on de facto authorities and other armed groups to stop obstructing the work of journalists and release all journalists unjustly detained.
