Press limits taint Yemeni reforms

SAN’A, Yemen - Reporters here say freedom of the press is declining as jailings and harassment increase, despite praise for efforts toward reforms and complete democracy.

“Journalists are now very afraid of being arrested and are much more careful about what they write,” said Hafez al-Bukari, general secretary of the Yemen Journalists Syndicate. “They fear that anything can happen to them at any time.”

Early last month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution that commended reforms in Yemen and a half-dozen other Middle Eastern countries, citing efforts for political, educational and economic improvements. International observers judged this country’s 2003 parliamentary elections to be free and fair, but with irregularities such as underage voting, voter intimidation and violence. The congressional resolution offered aid to Yemen to continue to develop democracy and freedom.

But some say pressure on the press is hindering Yemen’s progress.

“Arresting journalists and closing newspapers does serious harm to democracy,” said Majid al-Fahed, executive director of the Civic Democratic Initiatives Support Foundation in Yemen. “There is a strong relationship between freedom of expression and democracy.”

Yemen’s Center for Training and Protection of Journalists’ Freedom reported more than 120 incidents against journalists in 2004, the most in any year since unification of North and South Yemen in 1990. It added that court verdicts against journalists rose 80 percent.

Although Yemen still ranks above several other Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, Syria, Libya, Tunisia, Iraq and Bahrain, Reporters Without Borders dropped Yemen in rank from 103 to 136 in its world press freedom index between 2002 and 2004.

Sensitive subjects

Many say pressure against the press increased in September when Abdul Karim al-Khaiwani, editor of the opposition weekly Al-Shoura (the Consultation), was sentenced to a year in prison and the paper was suspended for six months. Mr. al-Khaiwani was charged with incitement, publishing false information, causing tribal and sectarian discrimination, and insulting the president.

No defense attorney was present during the trial, and no appeal has been allowed.

In December, up to seven journalists were sentenced to prison. Abdul Karim Sabra, editor of the weekly Al-Hurriya (Freedom), and one of its reporters, Abdul Qawi al-Qabati, were sentenced to two years for insulting the president, and the weekly was closed for one year.

Other journalists received suspended sentences ranging from three to six months for reporting false information, damaging Yemen’s relations with neighboring Saudi Arabia and defaming a Yemeni minister. Four more newspapers reportedly were closed or suspended.

Although it was not clear what was behind the press clampdown, some analysts said reporters began writing more critically on issues considered sensitive in Yemen.

“What happened last year was that the press addressed issues they hadn’t addressed before,” said Abdullah al-Faqih, professor of political science at San’a University. “They targeted sensitive issues and high government officials, and it caused a reaction by those in power.”

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