Gulf | Yemen
Yemeni journalist jailed for rebel links
The editor of Yemen's opposition newspaper has been sentenced to six years in prison for supporting Shiite rebels.
- By Nasser Arrabyee, Correspondent
- Published: 19:38 June 9, 2008
- Image Credit: Reuters
- Abdel Karim Al Khaywani, editor of opposition newspaper Al Shura, listens as a verdict is being pronounced at a state security court in Sanaa.
Sana'a: A Yemeni journalist was sentenced to six years in prison on Monday for having links with a 14-member group convicted of supporting the armed rebellion in Sa'ada, north of the country.
Chaired by Judge Muhsen Alwan, the State Security Court sentenced the journalist Abdul Kareem Al Khaiwani to six years in prison.
Al Khaiwani was accused of cooperating with the armed group and also of distributing leaflets encouraging Al Houthi rebels and inciting them against the state.
Although Al Khaiwani asked for an appeal, the security men took him to prison immediately after the session was over.
Al Khaiwani was among 14 other defendants who were convicted of supporting the Al Houthi armed rebellion in Sa'ada.
The sentence against journalist Al Khaiwani was condemned by human right activists and journalists including the chairman of the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate, Nasr Taha Mustafa.
"The verdict on Al Khaiwani was stiff and we reject it, we condemn it, and we demand that it be overruled," Mustafa said after the court issued the verdict.
A lot of other journalists, lawyers and human rights groups expressed their rejection of the verdict.
Human right activists and journalists attended the session in solidarity with their colleague.
Two American journalists, from the New York Times, were banned from entering the court room by the prosecutor Saeed Al Akel who asked them to get permission from the ministry of information if they want to attend the session.
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