Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
The family of Yemeni journalist Mohammed al-Maqri has expressed deep skepticism regarding the veracity of a statement attributed to Al-Qaeda, in which the organization claims to have executed 11 people, including their son, whom they had been holding captive.
In a statement, al-Maqri’s family stated that their doubts stem from “the absence of any visual recording containing confessions by our son or his trial, as is customary for the organization, in addition to the lack of reliable information about the other names included in the statement and the accusations leveled against our son.”
They pointed out the absence of credible information about the other names mentioned in the statement, raising further doubts about the veracity of the entire statement. They suggested that anyone could conduct an internet search for the names listed in the statement to verify this matter.
The family explained that “the accusation leveled by the organization against the journalist al-Maqri, as stated in the alleged statement, of being a ‘spy for national security,’ is not a legitimate justification according to the rulings that the organization claims to adhere to, which do not give the organization the right to kidnap, forcibly disappear, and prevent him from communicating with his family members or children for ten years.”
Al-Maqri’s family categorically rejected any condolences for their son’s death, considering him still alive and held captive by the organization and forcibly disappeared. They held Al-Qaeda fully responsible for his life, safety, and fate.
They also called on all concerned parties and local and international human rights organizations to pressure for the disclosure of their son’s fate and the fate of the other captives held by the organization.
Al-Qaeda had previously announced the killing of journalist al-Maqri, along with 11 other individuals, on charges of spying against those they called “mujahideen.”
Journalist al-Maqri was abducted on October 12, 2015, while covering a demonstration calling for the departure of the organization at that time from the city of Mukalla in Hadramaut Governorate (eastern Yemen).
