Wed - 30 Aug 2023 - 01:35 AM ،،،
IFJ
On August 24, director and owner of the radio station Voice of Yemen, Mujalli As-Samadi, was brutally assaulted in front of his house in Al-Safia area in Sana’a, by a gang of five individuals allegedly associated with the Houthi group. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the Yemeni Journalists’ Syndicate (YJS) in condemning the attack and calling for better protection measures for journalists and media workers in the country.
The assailants beat As-Samadi, and warned him to cease his work or risk ‘severe consequences’, said the journalist shared ‘X’, formerly Twitter.
It is not the first time that As-Samadi has been attacked, according to media reports. The radio station he owns was looted and all its equipment confiscated by the Houthi group on July 11.
The YJS issued a statement that read: “the de facto authority in Sana'a is fully responsible for the life and safety of our colleague As-Samadi, and the risks or harm he is exposed to.” The union called on local and international press freedom organisations to insist upon the restoration of the rights of journalists and guarantee the safety and protection of As-Samadi, his family and all journalists and media workers across Yemen.
IFJ Secretary General Anthony Bellanger said: “We condemn the brutal attack on our colleague Mujalli As-Samadi and all attempts to silence his critical reporting. The IFJ urges the competent authorities to halt the pattern of intimidation targeting journalists in the country and to bring the perpetrators to justice. This climate of impunity is intolerable.”
According to YJS, seven journalists are currently held behind bars in Yemen. The Federation restated its demands for their immediate release.
