Yemen

Front Line Welcomes the Awarding of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize to Tawakkul Karman of Yemenposted on: 2011/11/07

Front Line warmly welcomes the awarding of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize to Tawakkul Karman, a courageous woman human rights defender from Yemen, honoured for her outstanding work promoting peace, democracy, and human rights.

Tawakol Karmanposted on: 2011/11/02

History of Front Line Defenders campaigning efforts on behalf of Tawakol Karman, winner of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize.

Dublin: Front Line Defenders celebrates the Awarding of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize to 3 outstanding women human rights defendersposted on: 2011/10/07

Front Line Defenders today celebrates the awarding of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize to 3 outstanding women human rights defenders - Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Leymah Bbowee of Liberia - and Tawakul Karman of Yemen who attended the 2007 Dublin Platform for Human Rights Defenders.

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.

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 - 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.