WTI joins other organizations calling on United Nations to help stop the executions four Yemeni jour

Organisations which support human rights, press freedom and journalists are calling on United Nations mechanisms and member states to help save the lives of four Yemeni journalists who were sentenced to death in April 2020. These journalists have been convicted in violation of their right to freedom of expression. Of the six other journalists in the same case whom the judge ordered to be freed, after five years in detention, only one has been released so far.

The judge sentenced the other six journalists, Hisham Ahmed Tarmoom, Hisham Abdulmalik Al-Yousefi, Haitham Abdulrahman Al-Shihab, Essam Amin Balgheeth, Hassan Abdullah Annab and Salah Muhammad Al-Qaedi, to time already served in prison, or approximately five years, and also placed them under police supervision for a period of another three years. In addition, the electronic devices and materials that were in their possession when they were arrested remain confiscated.

Despite the court’s decision to release the six journalists, the authorities continue to delay their release. Until the date of this appeal, only journalist Salah Mohammad Al-Qaedi has been released (on 23 April 2020).

Our letter calls on the UN to request the de facto authorities in Sana’a, the Houthis, to overturn the sentences of these journalists, free them from imprisonment, and to ensure the safety of all journalists.

Read the full letter here.