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Yemen: Severe assault of human rights journalist Ms Samia Alagbryposted on: 2011/02/14

On 13 February 2011, human rights journalist Ms Samia Alagbry was reportedly subjected to an abduction attempt and physical assault while participating in a demonstration in Sana'a. Samia Alagbry was the secretary of the Rights and Freedoms Committee of the Journalists' Syndicate, and regularly documents and reports human rights violations in Yemen, particularly against journalists.

Further Information

It is reported that individuals in plain clothes, believed to have been State Security officers and thugs, attacked the demonstrators as they marched between the University of Sana’a and Heda Street.

A masked man in plain clothes reportedly attempted to take Samia Alagbry with him by force; however, other demonstrators, having overheard her screams intervened to aid her. The man then pushed Samia Alagbry violently to the ground, causing her head to hit the pavement and subsequent loss of consciousness. Samia Alagbry was then transferred to Al-Jumohoria hospital where she regained her consciousness and was treated for bruises.

Police officers present at the time seemed to have observed the event without intervening to protect Samia Alagbry.

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Yemen: Physical assault of human rights defenders Ms Tawakkol Karman, Ms Bushra Alsorabi and Mr Ali al-Dailamiposted on: 2011/01/07

On 14 December 2010, human rights defenders Ms Tawakkol Karman, Ms Bushra Alsorabi and Mr Ali Hussain al-Dailami were physically assaulted during a peaceful protest in Sana'a, Yemen.

Further Information

Tawakkol Karman and Bushra Alsorabi are Chairperson and Executive Director respectively of Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC), an organisation which campaigns for freedom of the press and other human rights in Yemen. Ali Hussain al-Dailami is the executive director of the Yemeni Organization for the Defence of Democratic Rights and Freedom.

Tawakkol Karman has been the subject of Front Line Urgent Appeals dated 9 October 2009 and 27 October 2010, along with Bushra Alsorabi.

Yemen – Brief arrest of Ms Tawakkol Karman, physical assault on Ms Bushra Alsorabi, and arrest and torture of Mr Fuad Ahmed Najiposted on: 2010/10/27

On 12 October 2010 human rights defenders Ms Tawakkol Karman and Ms Bushra Alsorabi were targeted and harassed by police during a peaceful protest in Sana'a. Tawakkol Karman is chairperson and Bushra Alsorabi is executive director, of Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC), which campaigns for freedom of the press and other human rights in Yemen. Many others who participated in the peaceful protest were also attacked by police.

Yemen: Human rights defender Mr Kamal Sharaf detainedposted on: 2010/08/19

Front Line is concerned regarding the arrest of artist and human rights defender Mr Kamal Sharaf on 16 August 2010.

Yemen: Increasing harassment of human rights defender Ms Afrah Sa'eedposted on: 2010/07/16

Since March 2010, human rights defender Ms Afrah Sa'eed has been subjected to increasingly serious harassment and intimidation because of her work in defence of others. Afrah Sa’eed is the Secretary General of the Arab Foundation for the Support of Women and Juveniles and the information coordinator at the Yemeni Organization for the Defense of Democratic Rights and Freedom.

Yemen: Attack against human rights defenders Ms Tawakkol Karman and Ms Lubna Al-Gedsi, and alleged enforced disappearance of Mr Ali Ahmad Al-Saqqaf posted on: 2009/10/09

On 6 October 2009, human rights defenders Ms Tawakkol Karman and Ms Lubna Al-Gedsi were reportedly attacked by security men during a peaceful protest in Sana'a. Tawakkol Karman is the chairwoman of Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC), which campaigns for freedom of the press in Yemen. Lubna Al-Gedsi is the coordinator of the Rights and Freedoms section at WJWC.

Yemen - Fear for the well-being of human right defender in incommunicado detention, Mr Salah el-Saqladiposted on: 2009/08/21

Human rights defender, Mr Salah Yahya el-Saqladi, has been held incommunicado in an unconfirmed location since his arrest on 18 June 2009. Salah el-Saqladi is a journalist and the head of the Aden branch of the Organization for Change and the Defense of Rights and Freedoms (OCDRF).

Yemen: Judicial harassment of human rights defender and journalist, Mr Anees Mansoorposted on: 2009/04/28

Front Line is concerned about reports of the judicial harassment of human rights defender and journalist Mr Anees Mansoor, who will be summoned for the third time today, 28 April 2009, by the Qubaita Prosecution Office under accusations of encouraging instability, organising illegal demonstrations and promoting the reunification of Yemen (North and South), charges that could result in up to four years in prison.

Yemen: Harassment and fear for safety of human rights defender Mr Ali Hussain al-Dailamiposted on: 2009/04/10

Front line is concerned for the safety of human rights defender Mr Ali Hussain al-Dailami, who has reportedly been receiving direct threats and nuisance calls and messages in reaction to his role in the ongoing campaign for the release of detainees related to the Sa’da conflict. Ali Hussain al-Dailami is the executive director of the Yemeni Organization for the Defence of Democratic Rights and Freedom, and was previously a victim of detention and alleged torture in 2006.

Yemen: Upholding of sentence against human rights defender, Mr Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani, despite presidential pardonposted on: 2009/02/03

Front Line is concerned following reports that the sentence of Mr Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani was upheld on 26 January 2009. Abdul-Kharim al-Khaiwani is the former Editor-in-Chief of the pro-democracy online newspaper, Al-Shoura, and a campaigner for the right to freedom of expression in Yemen.

Yemen – Release of human rights defender while others remain in detentionposted on: 2008/12/12

Update

Front Line welcomes the release of human rights defender, Khalid Abdul-Wahab El-Sharif from prison on Friday 19 December. He had been detained since 5 July 2008 in the Political Security Prison, San´a, where he had been denied legal consultation, regular visits and was never officially charged. Despite his release, Front Line remains deeply concerned about the ongoing detention without charge of human rights defenders, Mr Yasre Abdul-Wahab Al-Wazeer and Mr Mu’een Ibraheem Al-Mutawakel.

Yemen - Travel ban on journalist and human rights defender, Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwaniposted on: 2008/12/02

Front Line is concerned following reports that human rights defender and journalist, Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani, was banned from travelling to a human rights conference on 30 November 2008 despite receiving a presidential pardon on 25 September 2008 for all charges held against him. Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani is the former Editor-in-Chief of the pro-democracy online newspaper, Al-Shoura, and a campaigner for the right to freedom of expression in Yemen.

Yemen: Human rights defender and journalist Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani subjected to ill-treatment and denied medical treatmentposted on: 2008/08/21

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that human rights defender and journalist Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani has been subjected to ill-treatment while in prison. Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani is former Editor-in-Chief of the pro-democracy online publication Al-Shoura. He is a pro-democracy activist and a campaigner for the right to freedom of expression in Yemen, and was recently awarded the 2008 Amnesty International UK Special Award for Human Rights Journalism Under Threat. On 9 June 2008, Abdul Al-Khaiwani was sentenced to six years' imprisonment after being convicted by a state security court in Sana'a of conspiracy with anti-government rebels; on the basis of allegations which are believed to be fabricated.

Yemen: Human rights defender and journalist Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani sentenced to six years' imprisonmentposted on: 2008/06/10

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that human rights defender and journalist Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani has been sentenced to six years' imprisonment on 9 June 2008. Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani is former Editor-in-Chief of the pro-democracy online newspaper Al-Shoura. He is a pro-democracy activist and a campaigner for the right to freedom of expression in Yemen. He has been nominated for the 2008 Amnesty International UK Special Award for Human Rights Journalism Under Threat.

Yemen: Charges and travel ban against human rights defender and journalist Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwaniposted on: 2008/05/26

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that human rights defender and journalist Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani is facing charges of having terrorism ties and that his trial due to take place on 21 May has been postponed. Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani is former Editor-in-Chief of the pro-democracy online newspaper Al-Shoura, and a campaigner for the right to freedom of expression in Yemen. He has been nominated for the 2008 Amnesty International UK's special award for human rights journalist under threat but might not be able to attend the Award Ceremony on 8 July 2008 due to a travel ban imposed upon him by the Yemeni authorities.