Yemen
Authorities seize newspaper officesPosted May 14 2009
Authorities in Yemen seized the newspaper offices of Al-Ayyam, a critical independent newspaper, on May 4, the Committee to Protect Journalists reported.
The general manager of the newspaper, Bashraheel Bashraheel, told CPJ that security forces surrounded the Al-Ayyam offices, prevented the distribution of 70,000 copies of the paper and searched staff members as they left the building.
Bashraheel told CPJ that the harassment Al-Ayyam staff receive has increased since early April as the newspaper continues to cover military clashes between the government and an opposition group called the Southern Movement. Bashraheel also reported receiving threatening phone calls, including a note that threatened to “slit his throat” if he continued his work at the newspaper.
Authorities had been confiscating copies of the paper for three days prior to the seizure, reported CPJ. On May 1, an armed group stopped a vehicle carrying the newspaper to the capital and burned over 16,000 copies.
Bashraheel believes the armed group was acting on behalf of Yemen authorities. Two days later, military checkpoints prevented over 50,000 copies of the newspaper from distribution.
More information
- Committee to Protect Journalists