Abdurrahim Mohsen jailed for alleged charge [Archives:2005/842/Front Page]
Mohammed bin Sallam
SANA'A, May 12- Abdurrahim Mohsen, an opposition journalist was captured by three armed men and landed Thursday afternoon in the Criminal Investigation Bureau's prison over alleged charges of traffic violations, al-Thawrah daily mentioned in its Friday's issue.
Abdurrahim narrated the story of his capture to Yemen Times by saying: “While I was driving my car at 5 pm last Thursday in al-Asbahi zone to take part in a condolence service at the house of a friend of mine, three armed men came suddenly and took me to the Criminal Investigation Bureau's prison with no reason except that they are given instructions to capture me.”
He added that his captors attempted to invent charges that are groundless and far from reality against him, and they threw a wine bottle into his car and accused him of being a drunkard.
Meanwhile, officials at the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate (YJS) strongly denounced the malpractices of the security authorities, the illegal imprisonment of journalist Abdurrahim and the fabricated charges they raised against the victim.
Hafidh al-Bakari, YJS Secretary General, told the Yemen Times: “The way in which Abdurrhim Mohsen was captured was illegal and scandalous, particularly as it was done against a personality of an effective opinion.”
For his part, lawyer Jamal al-Ja'abi condemned such practices by police and considered them to be to the contrary of the human values morals. He further said: “Charges filed against Abdurrahim Mohsen are 100% fabricated. Even if he committed traffic violations, only traffic men has the right to fine him. He should not have been arrested by armed people in civilian uniform who drove his car and took him to the CIB.”
Before this, Abdurrahim was kidnapped twice and jailed for nearly 75 days in the Political Security's prison over political charges.
A large number of journalists have held a sit-in since last Sunday at the head-office of the YJS in protest against illegal measures and attacks on journalists by security apparatuses.
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