Gulf | Yemen
Yemeni lawmakers condemn closure of newspaper
Members of Yemeni Parliament, belonging to the opposition and the ruling party, condemned on Sunday a government step to close down an independent paper.
- By Nasser Arrabyee, Correspondent
- Published: 21:58 April 6, 2008
Sana'a: Members of Yemeni Parliament, belonging to the opposition and the ruling party, condemned on Sunday a government step to close down an independent paper.
They described the step as unconstitutional and violation of freedom of press.
They summoned the Minister of Information Hussan Al Lawzi.
Nabeel Basha from the ruling party said the officials who ordered the closing of the paper, Al Wasat, must be held accountable.
He said they offended the country and its constitution and laws.
Abdul Razak Al Hejri, from the opposition, said officials at the Ministry of Information still hold the old attitude of censorship, which, he said, no longer works at the time of globalisation and open spaces.
On Saturday, the Ministry of Information ordered closing the independent weekly Al Wasat by cancelling its licence.
Lawsuit threat
The ministry accused the paper of publishing materials prohibited by other countries and offending relations of Yemen with these countries.
In a solidarity gathering for the paper held on Sunday in the headquarters of the syndicate in Sana'a, a group of journalists agreed to file a lawsuit against the Ministry of Information for interfering in the judicial powers by taking the step of closing without referring to the courts.
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