HRW 2000 Report on Yemen Government Restrictions on Freedom of Expression Worsened [Archives:2000/51/Front Page]

Human Rights Watch released last week its 2000 report on human rights situation in Yemen. The report said that this issue showed little improvement in 2000. There were credible reports of torture in state prisons as well as in private jails and illegal detention facilities the report reads. It also said that the Yemeni authorities detained political opponents and ignored court orders for their release or trial and that government harassment of independent press and restrictions generally on freedom of expression worsened as several journalists were questioned by security forces and detained without charge, and opposition and independent newspapers were the targets of defamation suits brought by the Ministry of Information as well as by sources from outside the government like what happened to the weekly al-Thakafiya whose editor was brought to trial on charges of apostasy as he serialized Sanaa is an Open City, a novel by Mohammed Abdulwali, an issue that led to a political crisis between PGC and Islah parties. The PSO( Political Security Office) contributed to a general atmosphere of political intimidation through its routine recourse to harassment, beatings, and arbitrary detention. PSO plainclothes agents in past years infiltrated the independent press, syndicates, and civic organizations to cease their activities. it adds. There was also focusing on institutionalized discrimination against Yemeni women as well as kidnapping problem and governments ruthless response to it.
Full text on Law and Diplomacy page.
 

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