November 03, 2007

Bogus Terror Trial of the Century in Yemen

This is the most absurd, bizarre and laughable charade of a trial I have ever seen. And in Yemen, land of politicized retribution trials, that is saying a lot. They call this journalist a "terrorist" for doing his job and disseminating war news, and the terrorists like Jamal al-Badawi, they call "rehabilitated".

Due to unconstitutional court and political charges, Al-Khaiwani still suffers

SANA’A, Oct. 31 — Yemeni journalist Abdulkareem Al-Khaiwani appeared in person before the penal court specializing in terrorist acts last Wednesday to hear the charges directed against him by the prosecutor.

He was accused of contacting Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi and disseminating news of the Sa’da war between the state army and the Houthis on Al-Shoura website (affiliated to the union of the Popular Forces), as well as in other private opposition newspapers.

The Wednesday session was the seventh in which the court of appeals, chaired by the Judge Mohsen Alwan, reviewed the Al-Houthi Sana’a Cell issue. The court previously heard many statements from the 14 suspects, including two females, involved in this cell.

According to most monitors, authorities are trying Al-Khaiwani as revenge for his writings and strong attitudes against the regime in Yemen. They also think that the authorities fabricated the claim that Al-Khaiwani contacted the second Al-Houthi Sana’a Cell to accuse him of terrorism.

Read the rest at the Yemen Times.