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February 03, 2025 – Yemen –
Freelance journalist Aziz Al-Ahmadi was sentenced to four months in prison with a suspended sentence by the Ataq Primary Court in Shabwa province, southern Yemen. The charges stemmed from an August 2024 Facebook post in which Al-Ahmadi questioned the rental of private land for a solar energy project instead of utilizing public land and criticized frequent power outages in the region.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the ruling, labeling it an example of escalating intimidation against journalists in Yemen. CPJ Program Director Carlos Martinez de la Serna emphasized that such legal actions are being used to silence critical reporting on local issues.
Al-Ahmadi has maintained his innocence and expressed his intent to pursue all legal avenues to challenge the charges. He remains steadfast in his commitment to journalism, asserting that his work will not be silenced.
The Shabwa province is currently under the control of the Southern Transitional Council, a separatist group. This context adds complexity to the situation, as the same group is believed to be responsible for the forced disappearance of journalist Naseh Shaker in November 2024.
This case highlights the broader challenges faced by journalists in Yemen, where legal tools are increasingly used to suppress dissent and restrict freedom of expression. International organizations continue to call for the protection of journalists and the upholding of press freedom in the country.
Reference –
Yemeni journalist handed 4-month prison sentence over social media post
