DISGRACEFUL WEEK FOR THE YEMENI PRESS [Archives:2000/26/Front Page]

Ruling against an Editor
Disgust and anger broke out among journalists and human rights activists as Samir Al-Yusufi, Editor of Al-Thaqafiah weekly newspaper who published an article entitled “Sana’a: An Open City” was sentenced to one week’s imprisonment for the so-called “blasphemous” article.
The verdict came after the editor was accused of being a communist and a pagan for releasing material against Islamic regulations and ideologies.
What is even more disgraceful is that Vice Mufti of the Republic, Hamoud Abbas Al-Mua’id issued a fatwa deciding that he should be chained by his hands and feet and imprisoned until he repents for his sins.
Al-Thawri about to close down
One of the most widely read opposition newspaper belonging to the Yemeni Socialist Party has declared that it is about to go bankrupt because of scarce finances. It has been requesting donations from its readers and YSP members for the continuation of the newspaper, but to no avail.
The newspaper said that the main reason for this impasse is that the government is still holding back the YSP’s dues amounting to millions suspended after the 1994 civil war.

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