Yemen / Middle East & North Africa

Washington, D.C., December 2, 2025 — The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for the immediate release of political commentator Adel al-Nazili, who rights groups and a family member say was abducted on November 18 from his home in Al-Mokha, southwestern Yemen, by the National Resistance Forces (NRF), paramilitary forces loyal to the internationally-recognised government and…

Washington, D.C., September 29, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for the immediate release of Yemeni freelance journalist Majed Zayed, who press freedom and human rights groups say was abducted by Houthi authorities on September 23 amid a wave of detentions. Zayed, a contributor to independent Yemen-based media outlets Nafzet Al-Yemen, Almawqea Post, and Mda…

Israel’s targeted strikes on two newspaper offices in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, which killed 31 journalists and media support workers on September 10, signal that its deadly pattern of attacking reporters and newsrooms on the grounds that they publish “terrorist” propaganda has spread firmly across the Middle East.  Yemen’s 26 September newspaper was the first to…

Washington, D.C., September 10, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Houthi authorities, who control most of Yemen, to immediately restore access to independent media outlet Barran Press, which the rebels have blocked via two internet service providers that they control. On September 6, Barran Press, which is based in the government-controlled city of Marib,…

Washington, D.C., August 19, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the August 16 arrest of Yemen News Agency journalist Hamoud Hazz’a after security forces raided his home in Al-Jufaina camp, Marib Governorate, confiscated his mobile phone and laptop, and took him to an undisclosed location without legal justification. Before his arrest, Hazz’a warned in an August 16 Facebook post that security personnel…

Washington, D.C., July 29, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for the immediate release of journalist Abduljabar Bajabeer, general director of the TV3ad channel, after his July 28 arrest in Yemen’s conflict-torn Hadramout governorate. He was detained on unspecified charges and transferred to the Criminal Investigation prison in the city of Al-Mukalla. His arrest follows…

Washington, D.C., July 3, 2025— The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the June 18 arrest of journalist Muzahim Bajaber in central Yemen’s Hadramout Governorate on unspecified charges.  The warrant, reviewed by CPJ, was issued by a Specialized Criminal Court and violates Article 13 of Yemen’s Press and Publications Law, which protects journalists from punishment for publishing their opinions unless they…

Washington, D.C., June 5, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Thursday condemned the issuance of arrest warrants for three Yemeni journalists and the nine-hour detention of two others, who were forced to delete a Facebook post about an assault.  The security directorate in eastern Hadramout Governorate issued the three arrest warrants against Sabri bin Mukhshen, Abduljabar Bajabeer, and Muzahim Bajaber based…

Washington, D.C., June 2, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Houthi rebels’ abduction of at least four Yemeni journalists and media workers  in the western port city of Hodeidah, and the sentencing of journalist Mohamed Al-Miyahi to 1½ years in jail for criticizing the group’s leader. Local press freedom groups said those abducted between May…

The Committee to Protect Journalists and 40 other press freedom and human rights organizations have condemned the worsening repression of journalists in Yemen. Journalists continue to face grave threats in areas controlled by both the Houthis and the internationally recognized government. Violations — ranging from arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance to unfair trials — are…