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NGOs Call for Release of Journalists Detained in Houthi Prisons

A Yemeni worker wearing a protective outfit sprays disinfectant on passing cars and motorcycles in the capital Sanaa, during the coronavirus pandemic, on May 21, 2020. (AFP)
A Yemeni worker wearing a protective outfit sprays disinfectant on passing cars and motorcycles in the capital Sanaa, during the coronavirus pandemic, on May 21, 2020. (AFP)
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NGOs Call for Release of Journalists Detained in Houthi Prisons

A Yemeni worker wearing a protective outfit sprays disinfectant on passing cars and motorcycles in the capital Sanaa, during the coronavirus pandemic, on May 21, 2020. (AFP)
A Yemeni worker wearing a protective outfit sprays disinfectant on passing cars and motorcycles in the capital Sanaa, during the coronavirus pandemic, on May 21, 2020. (AFP)

Over 22 Yemeni NGOs called Monday on the Iran-backed Houthi militias to unconditionally release journalists detained in their prisons, including those sentenced to death.

In a joint statement released on World Press Freedom Day, the organizations said: “Despite being a target of harassment and abusive practices, Yemeni journalists continue their struggle to uncover facts in Yemen amid war threats and the outbreak of the coronavirus.”

Journalism remains a dangerous profession in Yemen where reporters are subject to murder, violations, assault and kidnapping, while attacks on media organizations continue.

In their joint statement, the NGOs renewed their rejection of death sentences against four journalists detained in Houthi prisons for the past five years. They are Abdulkhaleq Ahmed Amran, Akram Saleh Al-Walidi, Al-Hareth Saleh Hamid and Tawfiq Mohammed Al-Mansouri.

They rejected the sentence, saying it was issued by a court that has no jurisdiction.

Also on Monday, the Yemeni Journalists' Syndicate reiterated its call for the release of all jailed journalists.

The Syndicate has documented around 1,400 violations against the press, including 39 killings and hundreds of arrests since the war in Yemen erupted in late 2014.

It said the difficult conditions in which journalists work in Yemen demand that all parties responsibly stand with them.

The Syndicate outlined the plight of journalists who have lost their jobs after more than 150 newspapers and media outlets were shut as the press came under more threats.

Moreover, the Syndicate called on international organizations concerned with freedom of expression to support Yemeni journalists and end the oppression against the press.

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Lebanese Govt Approaches Hezbollah Arms File Without Decisions

In this photo, released by the Lebanese Presidency press office, Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, center foreground, and Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, right, head a cabinet meeting at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency press office via AP)
In this photo, released by the Lebanese Presidency press office, Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, center foreground, and Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, right, head a cabinet meeting at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency press office via AP)
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Lebanese Govt Approaches Hezbollah Arms File Without Decisions

In this photo, released by the Lebanese Presidency press office, Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, center foreground, and Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, right, head a cabinet meeting at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency press office via AP)
In this photo, released by the Lebanese Presidency press office, Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, center foreground, and Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, right, head a cabinet meeting at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency press office via AP)

Lebanon’s government addressed the contentious issue of Hezbollah’s weapons
and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 with no concrete decisions made during the recent cabinet discussions.
Government sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Lebanese Forces bloc demanded that timeline for the disarmament of Hezbollah be set, but there was no response to their demand. Other ministers argued that the matter of exclusive state control over weapons is already addressed in the government's ministerial statement.

Moreover, and in a gesture underscoring its commitment to international cooperation, the government approved the extension of the mandate for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), highlighting Lebanon’s “keenness on partnership with the international community to maintain stability.”
It also reported 2,740 Israeli violations since the ceasefire agreement was put in place.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, government sources said that President Joseph Aoun has vowed to discuss the matter of setting a timeline to disarm Hezbollah with the relevant parties, and will report the outcome of his consultations back to the cabinet.

Following the cabinet session, Information Minister Paul Morcos reaffirmed the government's commitment to asserting state authority over all Lebanese territory. He underscored the need to bolster the Lebanese Army amid growing security challenges—particularly in the south, where the army continues to carry out its duties despite repeated Israeli aggressions.

The Minister stated that Army Commander General Rodolph Haikal delivered a security briefing during the meeting, outlining ongoing operations and the army's position. Haikal stressed Lebanon’s full commitment to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701, in contrast to Israel’s repeated violations, which, he said, hinder the army’s deployment and the extension of state authority in the region.
UN Security Council Resolution 1701 calls for the Lebanese Army’s deployment south of the Litani River and the removal of all unauthorized armed groups.

Despite limited resources, Morcos noted, the army “continues to fulfill its duties under difficult conditions”.
Industry Minister, Joe Issa el-Khoury, said after the cabinet meeting at Baabda Palace that ministers of the Lebanese Forces bloc raised the issue of setting a six-month timeline for the handover of all illegal weapons—both Lebanese and non-Lebanese. They proposed beginning the process with the Palestinian refugee camps.
Morco also announced that the Cabinet approved the extension of the UNIFIL mandate in southern Lebanon, stressing the Lebanese state’s commitment to its partnership with the international community in preserving stability.

For his part, President Aoun, at the onset of the session, described his meeting with Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Tamim Al-Thani, in Doha as “fruitful and excellent,” revealing that a Qatari delegation may visit Lebanon next week to discuss the electricity file.
Aoun also thanked the Intelligence Directorate and General Security for arresting members of a cell involved in rocket launches from southern Lebanon. He expressed hope that the cell recently dismantled in Jordan—whose members admitted to receiving training in Lebanon—will be fully unraveled.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, for his part, spoke about his recent visit to Syria. He said four major issues were discussed: securing and eventually demarcating the Lebanese-Syrian border, the case of Lebanese detainees who disappeared in Syria, Lebanese nationals wanted by authorities who are currently in Syria, and the issue of Syrian prisoners held in Lebanon.
Salam underscored that some of the most pressing matters discussed was the return of Syrian refugees back to their homeland, and the need to lift sanctions on Syria in order to facilitate this process.
The visit also included an official request for information related to the Beirut port explosion.