The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate (YJS), in calling for the release of journalists Majed Zayed and Oras Al-Iryani and of all imprisoned journalists in the country.
Zayed was abducted on 23 September while leaving a medical centre in Sana’a. His disappearance followed the publication of a celebratory post on his Facebook account ahead of Revolution Day, on 26 September.
In the run-up to the anniversary of the revolution, the Houthi group intensified its repression and abductions of citizens, including journalists.
Just one day before Zayed’s arrest, Al-Iryani was also abducted. Al-Iryani was known for his sarcastic writing mocking the political and social reality in Yemen, which the Houthis disagreed with. Since his arrest, his Facebook page was deleted and there has been no trace of him.
Majed Zayed and Oras Al-Iryani continued detention, which was carried out without any clear legal justification or transparent judicial procedures, as highlighted by the YJS statement, is the result of a climate of repression that silences all those with dissenting or critical views of the Houthi authorities.
YJS affirmed that “the detention of journalists solely for their opinions or professional activities constitutes a flagrant violation of freedom of expression and the right of the press to perform its oversight and professional role. It constitutes a clear violation of the Yemeni Constitution, local laws, and international conventions that guarantee freedom of the press and opinion”.
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said that the abduction of journalist Majed Zayed and writer Oras Al-Iryani is an outrageous attack on the fundamental principles of freedom of expression and human dignity. He called called on the Houthi rebels and other armed groups to immediately release them and all journalists unjustly imprisoned in the country,”.