Yemeni Journalist Awad Kashmeem Arbitrarily Detained in Hadhramaut

April 18, 2025 – Yemen – 

On April 15, 2025, Yemeni journalist and union activist Awad Kashmeem was arrested by security forces in the Haridah district of Hadhramaut province, eastern Yemen. Kashmeem, who serves as the head of the Freedoms Committee at the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate’s Hadhramaut branch, was apprehended without any formal charges being announced, and his current whereabouts remain undisclosed.

The arrest followed a series of events where Kashmeem’s home was reportedly raided, and his family faced intimidation actions perceived as retaliation for his journalistic endeavors. This incident is not isolated; in February 2018, Kashmeem was previously detained by Yemen’s elite security forces under the directive of then-governor Faraj al-Bahsani, who was influenced by the United Arab Emirates.

International organizations have condemned the arrest. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed deep concern, highlighting the alarming decline in press freedom in Hadhramaut. Similarly, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate (YJS) have called for Kashmeem’s immediate release and urged authorities to ensure his safety.

Hadhramaut, Yemen’s largest governorate, is experiencing increasing political fragmentation. While coastal areas are under the control of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), the current governor maintains ties with the internationally recognized government. Diverging interests between Saudi Arabia and the UAE have further deepened political rifts in the region, complicating the landscape for journalists and media workers.

Kashmeem’s detention underscores the broader challenges faced by journalists in Yemen, where media professionals operate under constant threat of arbitrary detention and harassment. The international community continues to advocate for press freedom and the protection of journalists in conflict zones.

Reference – 

https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/news/detail/category/press-releases/article/yemen-journalist-and-union-activist-arrested-in-hadhramaut-province#:~:text=18%20April%202025-,Yemen%3A%20Journalist%20and%20union%20activist%20arrested%20in%20Hadhramaut%20province,of%20Hadhramaut%20province%2C%20eastern%20Yemen.

International Condemnation of the Arrest of Yemeni Journalist Awad Kashmim in Hadhramaut

Yemeni authorities arrest journalist Awad Kashmeem in Hadramout