(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) BRUSSELS, Sept 12 (KUNA) -- The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemned Tuesday treatment of Yemeni journalist Yahya Abdulraqeeb al-Jubeihi who is suffering from serious health problems and called on his Houthi captors to release him immediately.
Al-Jubeihi, 61, is a prominent figure in the Yemeni press, having written regularly for Saudi dailies Okaz and Al-Madina and Yemeni newspapers as well as serving in the press department for President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi during the 1990s and 2000s. In September of last year, al-Jubeihi was arrested by Houthi security forces and accused of treason. After eight months of detention, he was sentenced to death by the Houthi Security Court on charges of "spying for Saudi Arabia." "We are appalled at the treatment of Yahya Adbulraqeeb al-Jubeihi", said IFJ Secretary General Anthony Bellanger in a statement. He said the international community will make sure those responsible for "his false conviction and treatment in detention will face justice for their terrible crimes." "The constant targeting of journalist in Yemen is unacceptable and we call for all journalists currently imprisoned to be freed immediately", said Bellanger. Almost 50 media violations including eight abductions, four detentions, two arrests and pne persecution occurred in Yemen in the first quarter of 2017 alone.
Up to 62 percent of these violations were perpetrated by the Houthis (29 cases) and 17% by security agencies affiliated to the government (eight cases), noted the IFJ.
The Brussels-based IFJ represents around 600,000 journalists across 139 countries worldwide. (end) nk.rk
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