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.

Further Information

On 30 November 2008, Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani was prevented by authorities at Sana'a Airport from boarding a plane while en route to attend a conference in Cairo organised by the Egyptian National Council of Human Rights and the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights. Five other delegates and representatives of Yemeni non-governmental organisations (NGOs), who were due to travel to participate in the same conference, refused to leave Sana’a airport in support of Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani. He was told by the authorities that a travel ban has been imposed at the request of the Sana´a Airport´s Passport Department.

Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani was released from prison on 25 September 2008 following a presidential pardon which includes an amnesty for all charges held against him. On 9 June 2008, he had been sentenced by the penal court of Yemen 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 were believed to be fabricated. Front Line issued an urgent appeal concerning a previous travel ban on Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani on 22 May 2008.

Front Line believes that Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani has been targeted as a result of his peaceful and legitimate activities in defence of human rights, in particular his work to promote democracy and the right to freedom of expression in Yemen. Front Line is concerned that this latest travel ban on Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani forms part of an ongoing trend of harassment against human rights defenders in Yemen. Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Abdil-Karim al-Khaiwani as well as that of his family.