Three journalists given 5 months [Archives:2002/24/Local News]

A Yemeni court sentenced three journalists to five-month stay of execution jail terms last Tuesday.
The three journalists, Abdulraheem Mohsen, Ibraheem Hussien and Khalid Salman were accused of writing articles that incite sectarian and irrational sentiments endangering the unity of the country. The articles were published in the al-Thowri Weekly, organ of the Socialist Party last February.
The South Eastern Court of Sanaa headed by Judge, Mohammed M. al-Raimi sentenced the three writers to five months in jail. The court has held five hearings, since last march. The prosecution filed a case against the journalists on the basis of a letter from the Information Ministry.
Jamal al-Jobi the advocate for the journalists told the Yemen Times the verdict is welcomed, since it is a positive step forward when people use the court to settle their scores. However, he said that the verdict might impair democracy and freedom of speech and expression.
Al-Jobi appealed the verdict requesting the Judge to postpone judgment as Abduraheem Mohsen is still being held in prison by the Intelligence and nobody will know his fate for a few weeks.
Following Mohsens arrest, the opposition, mainly the Socialist Party accused the Yemeni Intelligence. They demanded, in a press statement, his immediate release and compensation for the material and mental stress he has been exposed to.
The opposition demanded the government to stop persecuting the press and respect democracy.

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