Muhsin & Hussein stand before court Stop hassling press! [Archives:2002/28/Local News]
The second session of trial of two journalists was held yesterday by the Eastern court of Sanaa.
Abdulraheem Mohsen and Ibraheem Hussein stand trial on charges of inciting sectarianism, regionalism and insulting the president of republic in their articles. They are also accused of abusing the rational unity of the country. The two articles appeared before the court while their hands chained.
Advocates expressed surprise at the speed in which the trial is being conducted after they have been transferred from the prison of the political security office (intelligence) to police station prison.
The prosecution of the press and publication held only one single interrogation session and they were transferred to court.
Their appearance with chained hands agitated the anger of human rights activists and journalists as they are writers not criminals.
A number of human rights activists and journalists carried out a sit-in in front of the office of the general prosecutor last Wednesday demanding the release of the two writers. The protesters met the general prosecutor Dr. Abdullah al-Ulofi who showed understanding to their demands. He promised to discussed this with the court judge Ahmed al-Jurmuzi.
The advocates of the detained writers also demanded that the General prosecutor should hold the people who detained the two writers without any legal arrest warrant accountable. The prosecutor promised to look into the demand.
If the two writers are convicted, they would face a sentence of no more than one year in jail.
The two writers were detained at the intelligence prison. The interference of some human rights activists to the president led to the transfer of their case to the prosecution and then to the court.
On its part, the Yemeni Journalist Syndicate (YJS) expressed last Wednesday its concern over the recent developments concerning the case of the two journalists, Abdulrahman Muhsen and Ibraheem Hussein currently in detention.
The YJS also demanded through its chairman Mahbub Ali, releasing them since their detention is illegal.
Advocate Mohammed Naji Allow, told the Yemen Times, the editor-in-chief of Al-Thawri newspaper has been detained without a legal warrant, and without filing any charge against him Families of the detainees had not also been informed about their whereabouts although this a legal right that is ensured by the constitution, he added.
The Press & Publications Prosecution has referred the case file of Mohsen and Hussein to the Western court after interrogating them.
A number of human rights activists and journalists have expressed their concern over the continuous backsliding of freedom of press and expression in Yemen. Some NGOs concerned urged the government to stop hassling the press and opinion makers.
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