CPJ welcomes editor’s release in Yemen

We issued the following statement after learning that Hisham Bashraheel, editor of the daily Al-Ayyam, who has been in custody since January 6, was released today for what colleagues described as “health reasons.” The release comes one week after CPJ called on President Saleh of Yemen to release a number of journalists who are in custody but have not been charged with a crime. At least three other journalists remain in government custody…

“We are relieved to learn that our ailing colleague, Hisham Bashraheel, has been released from prison,” said Mohamed Abdel Dayem, CPJ program coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa. “We call on Yemeni authorities to accord due process to all detained journalists and immediately release all who have not been charged.”