Another blow to freedom of the press [Archives:2004/777/Front Page]

In another development concerning the press in Yemen, the Press and Publications Attorney interrogated on Tuesday the Editor-in-Chief of Al-Wasat Newspaper, Jamal Amir, for allegedly causing harm to Yemen-Saudi relations.
Upon completing the interrogation, Jamal Amir said that the issue was raised by the Ministry of Information in relation to a number of articles and news reports that damage relations between the two countries.
Amir requested the interrogation be delayed by a week to allow him to review the case against him and his newspaper, and to enable his lawyer Nabeel Al-Muhammadi to prepare a response.
Also regarding press rights in Yemen, the Chairman of the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate Mahboob Ali sent a memo of congratulations to President Saleh on the occasion of the anniversary of the 26th of September and requested the government to quickly put the law into practice, so as to release currently imprisoned journalist Abdulkareem Al-Khaiwani.
Despite local and international pressure, Al-Khaiwani, who is serving a one-year imprisonment sentense, has not been released and his appeal attempts have turned to be unsuccessful.
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