Yemen: Journalist killed on her way to maternity clinic

On November 9, a pregnant journalist was killed in a car blast in Aden on her way to the hospital to give birth. Her husband, also a journalist, was seriously injured in the attack. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate (YJS) in condemning in the strongest terms this horrific crime and in demanding the opening of an immediate investigation.

SALEH AL-OBEIDI / AFP

Freelance reporter and photographer Rasha Abdullah Al-Harazi was killed when an explosive device placed in her car exploded. Her husband and colleague, Mahmoud Amin Al-Atami, a freelance reporter who has worked for Al Arabiya and Al Hadath was wounded in the blast and is in critical condition in a hospital in Aden.

The Yemeni Journalists Syndicate said: “[We] condemn in the strongest terms this horrific and unprecedented crime and demand a speedy investigation into the incident, shed light on its circumstances, and arrest the perpetrators.”

The Syndicate also feared “this attack illustrates a new phase of violence targeting journalists in Yemen with cowardly means and with complete impunity for the murderers of journalists.”

Yemen stands among the list of the 5 targeted countries in the IFJ's campaign against impunityForty five journalists were killed in Yemen between 2011 and September 2021, and none of the perpetrators has been brought to justice, says the Federation.

The YJS has listed 63 violations against journalists and media from January to the end of September 2021, and more than 1,300 since 2015. The crimes range from targeted killings, imprisonment, attacks on media houses, shutdown of media and confiscation of newspapers to death threats, harassment and assaults.

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger, said: “We have no words for this brutal targeted murder of Rasha Abdullah Al-Harazi and the wounding of Mahmoud Amin Al-Atami. We call on the authorities to swiftly investigate this attack and take concrete steps to end impunity for crimes against journalists and ensure their safety."

For more information, please contact IFJ on +32 2 235 22 16

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 146 countries

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