Yemen - Journalists under attack (2012)

Widespread violence is directed against journalists. Reports of abductions, kidnappings, arbitrary arrests, beatings and torture are commonplace. During February, security forces beat or harassed at least 31 international and Yemeni journalists in an effort to quash reporting on the nationwide protests. On 25 October, gunmen shot two television journalists, killing one and injuring the other. This came weeks after the deputy director of a local radio station died of gunshot wounds from an attack on 25 September believed to have been carried out by Yemeni security forces.

On 12 March, the offices of the Yemeni Journalists’ Syndicate were attacked and arson threatened. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) reported a concerted campaign to intimidate and silence journalists which included detention and the burning down of a senior editor’s house following deaths threats against him and his family.

The Yemen state television authority warned in June that media workers who defied state orders to censor reporting on the anti-government protests would be sacked.

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