January 22, 2008

Congressional Testimony about Yemeni Journalist al-Khaiwani

Al-Khaiwani has been a target of the regime for years because of his refusal to self-censor. Currently he is facing an entirely bogus "terrorism" trial, having earlier been kidnapped and beaten by security forces. Testimony before the Foreign Relations Committee by the Committee to Protect Journalists:

In June, in one of the year’s most troubling press freedom incidents, Abdel Karim al-Khaiwani, editor of an opposition news Web site and former editor of the online newspaper Al-Shoura, was brought before a State Security Court on vague terrorism charges that carried a possible death penalty. The government made a slew of unsubstantiated accusations, reinforcing the belief among Yemeni journalists and political observers that the editor’s arrest was an attempt to punish him for his unrelenting criticism of the government’s fight against anti-government rebels in northwestern Yemen, as well as his writing about government nepotism. The preliminary evidence against al-Khaiwani consisted of photographs of the fighting in northwestern Yemen, an interview and contact with a rebel leader, and news articles, including one he wrote that criticized President Ali Abdullah Saleh...

His case took a dangerous twist in July 2007 when, following his release pending trial, several gunmen abducted him as he attempted to hail a taxi. The assailants threatened him, beat him, and tried to break his fingers. The gunmen also threatened to kill the journalist and his family if he wrote another word against the president or the country’s national unity.

During the year, there were several other cases of violent attacks and criminal prosecutions of independent journalists.

The testimony , which also covers Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco concludes, "This is why it is essential for those involved in promoting political reform and media freedom to redouble their efforts to unmask stealth attacks on the press and expose empty media reforms...Press freedom activists, human rights groups, and concerned colleagues have multiplied in the last decade, providing a voice for besieged journalists." Unmasking stealth attacks and exposing empty reforms, a Jawa specialty...

By Jane at 06:45 PM | |