Journalism Sector in Marib Pays an Exorbitant Price: Report Reveals Violations and Losses

Marib Governorate, Yemen - On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, a report by "Barran Press" sheds light on the staggering price paid by the journalistic and media community in Marib Governorate over the past nine years. The report exposes the direct and indirect targeting by the globally recognized terrorist organization, the Houthi group, resulting in severe violations and losses incurred while covering the war events that have plagued the governorate since late 2014.

Media Landscape Transformation

Prior to 2015, media institutions were virtually nonexistent in Marib Governorate. However, with the onset of the Houthi assault on the oil and gas-rich governorate following their seizure of the capital Sanaa on September 21, 2014, the media presence began to grow. Concurrently, the Houthi group launched a widespread propaganda campaign demonizing the people of Marib and its tribes, labeling them as "terrorists and saboteurs."

In response, journalists and activists from across Yemen initiated extensive coverage to counter the dissemination of "misleading information" by the Houthis. Marib Governorate became a destination for local and international media delegations, who visited the governorate, witnessed the battlefronts, and engaged with tribal leaders and local authorities.

The governorate became a haven for hundreds of journalists and media professionals fleeing Houthi suppression and persecution campaigns targeted at any media institution or individual not aligned with the group. Consequently, numerous media centers, including radio stations and news websites, were established or reactivated in the city of Marib, which became a hub for Yemenis opposed to the Houthi group.

Journalists Pay the Price

During the early years of the war, a significant number of journalists and media professionals emerged from Marib Governorate and other regions, actively covering the daily war events and becoming important sources of information for local, regional, and international audiences. However, their pursuit of documenting and reporting the truth came at a heavy cost, as the Houthi group deliberately targeted them to prevent the dissemination of accurate information, as confirmed by multiple correspondents and photographers in media interviews.

According to the findings of the "Barran Press" report, approximately 50 journalists, media personnel, and activists faced violations at the hands of the Houthi group while carrying out their professional duties. These violations ranged from killings, threats, and acts of terrorism to targeting, incitement, and defamation. Human rights reports indicate that journalists, correspondents, and photographers were deliberately attacked by the Houthis, resulting in the martyrdom of four journalists who were covering the battles in different fronts around Marib Governorate.

Among the victims was Abdulkarim Nasser Muthanna, the general director of Marib Radio, who was martyred in April 2015 while covering armed clashes in the Sirwah front. Abdullah Al-Qadari, an active journalist in Marib, was also martyred in April 2018 when the Houthi group targeted him with a guided missile while documenting the battles in the Qania front. In September 2018, Abdulsalam Al-Saedi, who had been documenting battles on the Al-Abediya front, was martyred by Houthi fire. Abdullah Al-Hadyah, a prominent source of information through social media, was targeted and martyred in 2021 while covering the intensified battles on the southern front.

The report also highlights the martyrdom of 11 activists who were actively covering the progress of battles on the fronts and were targeted by the Houthi group. Notably, Saleh Al-Thabiti, Muhsin Al-Kathiri, and Abdulmajeed Baheebah (Abu Nakhla) were among those who sacrificed their lives. Furthermore, 16 others were injured while covering battles on various fronts between 2017 and 2022.

Severe Injuries and Intimidation

In addition to the aforementioned casualties, the report documents the injuries sustained by nine journalists and correspondents while carrying out their professional duties in covering the battles around Marib. Some of these injuries were severe, and some individuals were injured multiple times. Dhaib Al-Shater, a photographer and correspondent, suffered a severe injury on the Qania front in 2018 when he and his colleagues were targeted by a guided missile. Al-Shater suffered a skull fracture and continues to experience its effects to this day.

Moreover, "Barran Press" highlights the threats and acts of terrorism employed by the Houthis to silence journalists and activists from Marib. The report reveals that 17 individuals received death threats from the Houthi group, while campaigns of defamation and vilification affected numerous influential journalists and activists within the Marib scene.

World Press Freedom Day Statement

The Yemeni Journalists Syndicate, in a statement commemorating World Press Freedom Day, expressed grave concern over the dangerous and complex conditions faced by Yemeni journalists as they enter the tenth year of the war that has engulfed them. The syndicate emphasized the detrimental impact of the war on the journalistic and media environment, citing over 1,700 cases of violations and attacks since the war's inception, the suspension of 165 media outlets, the blocking of approximately 200 local, Arab, and international websites, and the martyrdom of 45 journalists.

The report by "Barran Press" serves as a stark reminder of the immense sacrifices made by the media sector in Marib Governorate, where journalists and media professionals have paid an exorbitant price in their relentless pursuit of truth amid dangerous circumstances. The violations, losses, and targeted attacks perpetrated by the Houthi group have not deterred these individuals from providing accurate and reliable coverage to local, regional, and global audiences. As the war persists, the resilience of the media community in Marib remains unwavering, despite the grave risks they face in their dedicated efforts to shed light on the realities of the conflict.