The undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition's Executive Group denounced the Houthi ruling to execute imprisoned journalists and called for their release.

 

 

In a joint statement, the members of the Group voiced their growing concerns over the Houthi attacks against media freedoms in Yemen and said that the continued detention of Yemeni journalists is a worrying indication of the seriousness of violations of freedom of expression.

 

 

The Executive Group acts as a steering committee for the Coalition consisting of the UK and Canada plus the US, Latvia, the Maldives, Germany, Ghana, and the Netherlands.

 

 

It called on all Yemeni parties to ensure the safety of journalists and to respect humanitarian and international laws.

 

 

 

“We call on all parties to guarantee the safety of journalists and to respect human rights and international humanitarian law, so that they can carry out their work without fear of detention, reprisals or restrictions inconsistent with the right to freedom of expression,” the statement said.

 

 

In particular, the Group condemned the Houthis’ decision to put four Yemeni journalists to death for their reporting, saying it was an alarming situation that constitutes a blatant disregard for human rights.

 

 

Attacks on media freedom are attacks on human rights, and the protection of journalists and other media workers is critical to the success of any peacebuilding efforts undertaken in Yemen.

 

 

“We call on all parties to guarantee the safety of journalists and to respect human rights and international humanitarian law, so that they can carry out their work without fear of detention, reprisals or restrictions inconsistent with the right to freedom of expression,” the statement noted.