Yemen: a sixth journalist killed in 2016

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), representing 600,000 journalists worldwide, joined its affiliate, the Yemeni Journalists' Syndicate (YJS), in condemning the killing of a journalist in Shabwa, South-East of Yemen - the sixth one killed this year in the country. The YJS reported that Abdullah Azizan, correspondent of Mareb Press - an online news outlet - was killed on Sunday 29 May while covering clashes in the Bayhan area. "The YJS expresses its deep regret for the continuous targeting of journalists and presents its sincere condolences and sympathy to the family and friends of Abdullah Azizan," said the union in a statement. IFJ President Jim Boumelha said: "We are appalled by this new killing of a journalist in Yemen and are deeply concerned about the safety of journalists. Our thoughts are with Azizan's beloved ones in these difficult days. Following the letter we sent to the UN Special Envoy in Yemen last week, we once again urge the warring parties to stop targeting journalists who are covering the conflict and to guarantee their wellbeing while on mission and for the authorities to act now to stop the killings." Azizan is the fourth media worker killed in Yemen in 2016, killings which included journalists Mohammed al-Yemeni, Almigdad Mojalli and Ahmed Shaibani during violent clashes. In addition, five members of a journalists' family died during an air strike by the Saudi-led coalition in early February. According to the IFJ's latest figures, 14 journalists remain detained by Houthis - and 1 by Al Qaida - and 9 have been tortured in Yemen since 2015. Read more about the IFJ ongoing campaign that monitors media clampdown in Yemen since mid-2014.

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