Gulf | Yemen
Yemeni journalists released on bail
Yemeni judicial authorities on Wednesday released on bail three journalists being tried for reprinting the controversial cartoons after clerics said they should not be punished.
- By Nasser Arrabyee, Correspondent
- Published: 00:00 February 23, 2006
Sanaa: Yemeni judicial authorities on Wednesday released on bail three journalists being tried for reprinting the controversial cartoons after clerics said they should not be punished.
Mohammad Al Asadi, Editor-in-Chief of the English-language Yemen Observer, Akram Sabra, Editing Manager of the Arabic- language Al Huria, and his deputy, Yahya Abed, were released after spending two weeks in custody.
A number of Yemeni religious scholars had said "good intentions" should intercede for the journalists who reprinted the cartoons considering that there was no criminal intention.
Well-known preacher Al Habib Al Jafri told reporters yesterday, "The journalists who reprinted the cartoons should not be jailed or face any other punishment as long as they made a mistake without the intention of offending, and Allah knows best."
Supreme Court Judge Morshid Arshan said, "Those who reprinted the cartoons with the sign X on them were intending to reply to the satirical cartoons and were defending Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)."
However, he said, "The method was wrong. If the criminal intention is not there, the perpetrator should not be punished, but the cartoons should not be reprinted even if it is in the context of defending the prophet."
The newspapers are still closed down after the Ministry of Information cancelled their licences. The ministry filed a lawsuit against three newspapers earlier this month: Yemen Observer, Al Huria and Al Ray Al Am and cancelled their licences.
The Editor-in-Chief of Al Ray Al Am is still at large.
News Editor's choice
-
Kuwait condemns Houla massacre
Arab League urged to put end to oppression of Syrian people
-
Road crashes main cause of child death in UAE
Death rate among children in car accidents in the UAE is three times higher than global average
-
Last minute ID rush is on
Expatriates in Dubai have thronged typing centres and Emirates ID registration offices to meet the May 31 registration deadline
