The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) has documented numerous human rights violations in Yemen over the past two months, committed by various parties to the ongoing conflict. These violations include the continued targeting of journalists, media professionals, and other activists, the application of fabricated charges against them, and the imposition of severe restrictions on freedom of expression and press freedom. GCHR expresses concern over reports of the continued arbitrary detention of a group of innocent journalists and media professionals in Al-Hudaydah Governorate.

Journalist & writer Mohammed Dabwan Al-Mayahy sentenced to prison

On 24 May 2025, the Specialised Criminal Court in Sana’a, a court of First Instance, sentenced journalist and writer Mohammed Dabwan Al-Mayahy to one and a half years in prison after convicting him of the charges brought against him in the indictment, namely “harming state security” and “broadcasting news that would disturb public order.”

The court also required Al-Mayahy to sign a written pledge not to write again and to provide a financial guarantee of five million Yemeni riyals to confirm his pledge. The ruling also included the confiscation of his electronic devices and imposed surveillance on him for three years after he completes his sentence. The defense team immediately appealed the ruling.

The charges were related to his harsh criticism of the Houthi group in his writings published on social media, which was the reason for his arrest.

The indictment, dated 24 April 2025, issued by the Specialised Public Prosecution, a copy of which was seen by GCHR, accused Al-Mayahy of allegedly “publicly and maliciously broadcasting and publishing false news and statements with the intent to disturb public security and peace and harm the public interest by broadcasting inflammatory statements and articles against the state and its political system on the Yemen Youth Channel and Facebook.” The Public Prosecution decided to refer him to the Specialised Criminal Court of First Instance, despite the fact that he is a journalist and writer who had expressed his opinions peacefully, and any complaint against him should be considered by the Press and Publications’ Public Prosecution and Court.

On the morning of 20 September 2024, an armed force affiliated with the Houthi group arrested him from his home in the centre of the capital Sana’a, and took him to an unknown location. Reliable local reports confirmed that he was being held incommunicado in a prison affiliated with the Security and Intelligence Service. The charges against him were not immediately disclosed and he was prevented from communicating with his family or lawyer. He was transferred to the notorious Habra Prison in Sana’a on 28 April 2025.

His arrest represents a flagrant violation of freedom of expression, and the serious violations he faced can be considered a systematic approach pursued by the Houthi group against all voices with opinions that differ from those promoted by the authorities in Sana’a. He faced harsh conditions of enforced disappearance after being arrested without a judicial warrant, tried before a criminal court not specialised in publishing issues, despite the fact that on 13 January 2025 his case was referred to the Press and Publications’ Public Prosecution and Court because he is a journalist. The verdict was delivered via a mobile phone screen, and he was subjected to torture after being brought in handcuffs under heavy guard.

Al-Mayahy is a well-known journalist and writer in Yemen, with whom civil society organisations, fellow journalists and writers, and many citizens have expressed their solidarity. In June 2022, he celebrated the publication of a book, including his first novel, “The Little Philosopher”.

Arbitrary arrests of journalists and media professionals in Al-Hudaydah

On the evening of 21 May 2025, and the following day, an armed group affiliated with the Houthis arbitrarily and without a judicial warrant arrested a group of approximately 13 journalists and media professionals in Al-Hudaydah Governorate, western Yemen. Reliable local sources confirmed that among those arrested were journalist and deputy head of the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate in Al-Hudaydah branch Walid Ali Ghaleb, former Reuters photographer Abduljabbar Ali Ziyad, photojournalist and director of the Soura Media Production Centre Abdulaziz Ali Al-Noum, journalist Assem Mohammed, journalist Haitham Daoud Al-Raimi, correspondent for the New Arab news website Hassan Ziad, journalist and media officer at the Al-Amal Center for Cancer Treatment Abdulmajeed Al-Zayla’i, and photojournalist Mohammed Al-Hitari.

The same sources added that they are being held by the Security and Intelligence Service in Al-Hudaydah Governorate, and that no specific charges have yet been brought against them.

The Yemeni Journalists Syndicate strongly condemned these arrests in a statement issued on 25 May 2025, describing them as an arbitrary campaign that “targets journalists and freedom of opinion and expression.”

Journalist Abdulrahman Mohammed Al-Hamidi summoned

On 24 May 2025, journalist Abdulrahman Mohammed Al-Hamidi was summoned to the headquarters of the Third Security Zone in Ma’rib Governorate, northeast of Sana’a, after he posted on his Facebook page a post documenting the assault of his colleague, journalist Najmaldin Al-Sabri, by a number of armed men. He was subjected to mistreatment, detained for several hours, and interrogated by the zone director, who ordered him to delete his post. He was released on bail.

The next day, he was summoned again and forced to sign a pledge before security leaders stating that he would not publicise any developments in the governorate without first consulting the security services.

Al-Hamidi posted a photo of the pledge he signed and the guarantied Bail on his Facebook page, along with numerous solidarity posts he received from his colleagues.

The Third Security Zone includes military forces deployed in the Ma’rib and Shabwa Governorates, with its command centre located in Ma’rib city, and is under the control of the internationally-recognised government.

 Actress and model Intisar Al–Hammadi must be released

Despite having served nearly four years and four months of her five-year prison sentence, actress and model Intisar Abdulrahman Al–Hammadi remains in prison. Reliable reports confirm that she remains in the central prison, and her psychological state has improved after being transferred from the notorious outer section to the relatively-comfortable inner section. She also receives regular visits from her mother, who urges the authorities to release her.

GCHR learned from informed sources that the Public Prosecutor in Sana’a received a request for her release on 12 August 2024, pursuant to Article (506) of the 1994 Code of Criminal Procedure, which allows the release of a convict after they have served three-quarters of their sentence. However, he has not yet issued a decision on this matter.

GCHR has previously documented that, on 21 July 2022, she was severely beaten by the head of the ward in which she was staying, and another prison official.  

For more information click here. #Freedom_for_Entisar_AlHammadi

Journalist Muzahim Bajaber arrested

On 18 June 2025, a military force arrested journalist, editor-in-chief, and publisher of the Al-Ahqaf media platform, Muzahim Bajaber (photo to the left), and took him to the Criminal Investigation Department in Al-Mukalla, where he is currently being detained. The arrest was based on an order issued by the Specialised Primary Criminal Prosecution Office, which required his forcible arrest. Al-Mukalla is the capital of Hadhramaut Governorate.

On 21 June 2025, his fellow journalist, Sabri Salmeen bin Makhashin (photo in the middle), wrote on his Facebook page that Hadhramaut Governor Mabkhout Mubarak bin Madi opposed his release, despite explicit directives from Interior Minister Major General Ibrahim Haydan for his release on bail.

On 08 April 2025, the Specialised Criminal Prosecution in Hadhramaut Governorate issued an order to forcibly bring journalists Muzahim Bajaber, Sabri Salmeen Bin Makhashin, and Abduljabbar Bajber (photo to the right) before the court for failing to comply with its orders to appear before it.

This was followed by an order issued by the Director of Hadhramaut Police on 10 April 2025, ordering their arrest because they were wanted for investigation by the Specialised Criminal Prosecution and had not appeared voluntarily.

On 03 June 2025, Makhashin posted an appeal on his Facebook page addressed to the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate and human rights organisations. He attached photos of orders issued by the Specialised Criminal Prosecution Office and the Hadhramaut Governorate Police Director to detain him and his other two colleagues.

The appeal stated, “I carried my pen along with my fellow journalists, Abduljabbar Bajber and Muzahim Bajaber, and our pages embraced the causes of the oppressed and downtrodden, and we published major and horrific corruption cases that are destroying the national economy.” He added, “Instead of the Public Prosecutor and the Specialised Prosecutions taking strict and urgent legal action against violators, we are surprised by the issuance of coercive orders against us, in images that reflect the flawed handling of the state system and its laws.” He concluded his appeal by calling on all civil society organisations to stand in solidarity with them.

Hadhramaut Governorate is under the control of the government recognised by the international community.

Recommendations

Once again, GCHR urges the parties to the conflict in Yemen:

1. Immediately release all those who have been arbitrarily arrested, detained, or tried on fabricated charges;
2. Respect public freedoms, including freedom of the press and the right to peaceful assembly; and
3. Ensure that human rights defenders, including journalists, bloggers, academics, and internet activists, are able to carry out their legitimate work and express themselves freely without fear of reprisal and in a manner free from all restrictions, including judicial harassment.