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Yemen: Human rights defender and journalist Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani sentenced to six years' imprisonment

Posted on 2008/06/10

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that human rights defender and journalist Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani has been sentenced to six years' imprisonment on 9 June 2008. Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani is former Editor-in-Chief of the pro-democracy online newspaper Al-Shoura. He is a pro-democracy activist and a campaigner for the right to freedom of expression in Yemen. He has been nominated for the 2008 Amnesty International UK Special Award for Human Rights Journalism Under Threat.

Further Information

Posted 10/06/2008 On 9 June 2008, Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani was sentenced to six years' imprisonment by a state security court in Sana'a for conspiring with anti-government rebels. Charges of insulting the president and “demoralising the military” as well as allegations that he had links with an al-Houthi terrorist cell had been brought against Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani based on articles written about the Sa'ada war in Yemen.

The newspaper for which Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani works has been closed and his website has been blocked. His family have also been subject to physical abuse and threats. In 2004, he was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for supporting Hussain Badr al-Din al-Huthi, a cleric from the Zaidi community. On 20 June 2007, he was arrested at his home for allegedly having ties with an al-Houthi terrorist cell. According to reports, these accusations were fabricated. Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani has previously reported on human rights violations against the Zaidi community and those suspected of having links to al-Houthi. On 27 August 2007, after having been released, Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani was abducted and tortured by a gang of armed men. His family have also been subject to physical abuse and threats.

Front Line believes that Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani has been sentenced to six years' imprisonment as a result of his legitimate work in defence of human rights, in particular his work to promote democracy and the right to freedom of expression in Yemen. Front Line is concerned that the imprisonment of Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani is part of an ongoing trend of harassment against human rights defenders in Yemen. Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Abdil-Karim al-Khaiwani while in prison as well as that of his family.

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Front Line issues Urgent Appeals on behalf of human rights defenders at risk on a daily basis. These Appeals normally remain active on our web site for a period of up to six weeks, depending on the situation. After this time they will be archived. Front Line maintains a watching brief on all these cases but no further action is requested after the six weeks, unless there is a significant development in the case.