September Net

Yemeni journalists and media professionals have demanded an immediate and unconditional release for 24 fellow kidnapped journalists in the prisons of the Houthi rebel militia.

In a statement released during a sympathizer protest held Sunday in Marib province on Yemen Press Freedom Day, 9 June, the journalists condemned Houthi rebel militia for continuing its war against freedom of press and speech, and denounced all violations against press and journalists.

The statement strongly rejected politicizing the issue of kidnapped journalists, stressing that it is a pure humanitarian file that shouldn’t be used as bargaining chip in negotiations.

The statement called for the prosecution of perpetrators of crimes and violations targeting journalists, affirming that criminal shouldn’t go unpublished in order to ensure the rights and freedoms of the media and freedom of opinion and expression.

The protesters called on the international community, represented by United Nations, its Secretary General, and international organizations to exert more pressure on the Houthi militia to release all abductees, including the 10 journalists being detained for four years.