Yemen: journalist Fahd Al-Arhabi imprisoned
NUJ condemns detention of Al-Arhabi as authorities clampdown on press freedom.
The National Union of Journalists has joined the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in calling for the release of a Yemeni journalist jailed by Houthi security services.
On 5 June, following a summons and telephone calls by the Security and Intelligence Service in the Amran Governorate, Fahd Al-Arhabi was imprisoned. His arrest was for revealing information about a senior politician gaining control of land belonging to workers of a state-owned cement factory.
NUJ sister union, Yemeni Journalists Syndicate, has condemned his detention and noted the harassment he had been subject to for several months. Al-Arhabi had been arrested in July 2021 after a post on his Facebook page criticised an attack orchestrated by the Houthis in Amran.
The NUJ and IFJ urge authorities to respect press freedom in the country and end the targeting of journalists. The union is also calling for all media workers held unlawfully for their reporting to be released.
Anthony Bellanger, IFJ general secretary, said:
“The situation of journalists and press freedom in Yemen is becoming more concerning by the day and the regular attempts to silence critical reporting is outrageous. The arbitrary arrest and imprisonment of our colleague Fahd Al-Arhabi shows once again the pattern of intimidation that is targeting journalists in the country. We call for his immediate release, as well as all others currently detained by the authorities.”