Yemen - Journalists denied rights (2011)

After a partial strike of journalists working in four media groups and following negotiations with the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate in early 2009, the government agreed to a pay rise and improved contracts. The deal was due to be implemented in 2010 but was left out of the budget, sparking a strike in January. A further planned strike was called off following an agreement which went into force immediately in late January.

Meanwhile fears over the safety of journalists continue. Two journalists were shot in the southern Yemeni city of Ad Dali on 17 January by unknown gunmen. On 16 January 2010 Anisa Mohammed Ali Othman, a female reporter for Al-Wasat newspaper was convicted of ‘insulting the Head of State’ and sentenced to three months imprisonment and a one year ban from reporting. On 2 May Hossein Al-Leswas, editor and owner of the Al-Tajdid newspaper was sentenced by the Sanaa special court for press and publication offenses to one year imprisonment and a permanent ban on journalism work as punishment for reporting on corruption at a power Company. According to the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate, Al-Leswas has appealed but no date has yet been set for the hearing. On 16 August two journalists were detained and have since been held without charge. Abdelelaah Shaie, a reporter at the official Yemeni News Agency and Kmal Sharaf, a cartoonist at a state owned newspaper al-Gomhoriah were both arrested at their homes and detained by Yemeni National Security.

© ITUC-CSI-IGB 2013 | www.ituc-csi.org | Contact Design by Pixeleyes.be - maps: jVectorMap