2017: Yemen: Yahya al-Jubaihi
Yahya al-Jubaihi, a prominent Yemeni writer and journalist, underwent a grossly unfair trial that resulted in a death sentence. Moreover, he has been arbitrary detained since September 2016. The Norwegian Writers in Prison Committee believes his detention and death sentence are related to al-Jubaihi’s articles criticizing Houthi insurgence.
To
Ministry of Justice
Mr. Ahmed Abdullah Akbat, Minister of justice
Sana’a, Yemen
Email: mail.yemengov@gmail.com
info.government@yemen.net.ye
Oslo, May 14th 2017
Dear Minister of justice Mr. Ahmed Abdullah Akbat,
The Norwegian Writers in Prison Committee is deeply concerned about the death sentence issued by a Houthi court in Sana’a against Yahya al-Jubaihi, a prominent Yemeni writer and journalist, after a grossly unfair trial. He has been arbitrary detained since September 2016. We fear that al-Jubaihi’s detention and death sentence are related to his articles criticizing Houthi insurgence.
We call for Yahya al-Jubaihi’s death sentence to be quashed. Yahya al-Jubaihi should be released or retried in proceedings that conform to international fair trial standards and without the possibility of a death sentence.
The Norwegian Writers in Prison Committee urge the Houthi authorities to ensure the peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of expression, including the release of all detainees held solely for the peaceful exercise of their rights.
Yours sincerely,
Jørgen Lorentzen
Member of Writers in Prison Committee
PEN Norway
COPY:
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice in Yemen, Ministry of Human Rights in Yemen
