Intimidation, beatings, kidnapping and arrests have become commonplace for journalists covering the protests against President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s 33-year long rule in Yemen.
With its blotchy, at best, human rights record, threats against outspoken journalists are nothing new in Yemen, but the number of attacks on journalists has risen dramatically since the uprising began in January, rights groups say.
“Around 52 journalists have been attacked this year,” Hakim al-Masmari told GlobalPost. “My staff have been warned and threatened by the central security forces for covering any story that supports the Yemeni revolution or the opposition.”
“The government is attacking journalists more often since Yemen’s revolution started. They do not want such information to leave the country,” he said. “My staff is commonly threatened by government forces when covering security matters or when they are known to have entered opposition protest areas.”
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