CAIRO, June 9, 2008 (ANHRI) – The Arabic network for human rights information (ANHRI) has condemned the harsh sentence issued by the Yemeni State Security Court against Abdulkarim Al-Khaiwani, the former editor in chief of the Yemeni Al Shora newspaper, and the alShora.net website.

Al-Khaiwani was sentenced to 6 years in prison as one of 14 Yemenis accused in the case known as "The Second Cell of Sana'a." The Yemeni government accused the 14 persons of supporting the Houthis opposition militant group in Yemen.

Right after the sentence, the security officers arrested Al-Khaiwani violently and led him to prison without considering his health conditions.

The investigations in this case began around a year ago, on July 4th 2007, after Al-Khaiwani and his colleagues were accused of organizing a militia to commit terrorist attacks and conspiracy in cooperation with an illegal group.

The State Security Court did not commit to the accurate legal procedures while filing the case. Moreover, it did not provide valid evidence against Al-Khaiwani. In spite of all this the Court issued its tough verdict in the case, which confirms the doubts in the fairness of thoe so-called exceptional courts, especially when their sentences always come in the [form] of political revenge instead of justice.

"Despite the courage of many Yemeni Journalists, Al-Khaiwani was exposed to security [persecution] because of his critical writings against the Yemeni Government and president, which seem to be the reason behind the tough sentence," Gamal Eid, the executive Director of ANHRI said.

After this sentence Al-Khaiwani turned from a journalist whose freedom is endangered, into a prisoner of opinion; this situation requires all the Arabic and international possible efforts to release him and allow Al-Khaiwani to regain his freedom. At the same time, all Arabic and International organizations should note that there is a real risk for Al-Khaiwani during his stay in prison as a direct opponent of the Yemeni president.


More information:

From ANHRI:





From MENASSAT:

Fearless in Yemen
Posted on 12/18/2007 - 20:37
Veteran Yemeni journalist Abed al-Karim Al-Khiwani is going through an unprecedented legal battle to prove that he is not a terrorist plotting to topple the regime.

A New Jersey soccer mom's Yemeni crusade
Posted on 05/29/2008 - 15:37
A 46-year old housewife from New Jersey has become a household name in Yemen because of her unrelenting campaigning for press freedom there. MENASSAT spoke with Jane Novak or simply 'Jane,' as she is known in Yemen.