Yemeni Journalist Kidnapped in Sana'a After Criticizing Houthi Leader

Friday 5 Sep 2024 |2 months ago
Journalist Mohammed Al-Mayahy

Barran Press

Prominent Yemeni journalist Mohamed Dbouan Al-Miyahi was abducted by Houthi militants on Friday, September 20th, 2024, following the publication of an article criticizing the group and its leader, Abdulmalik al-Houthi.

According to human rights sources, Al-Miyahi was taken from his apartment in the early hours of the day. Armed men, accompanied by women, stormed his home, seized his electronic devices, including his phones, and whisked him away to an unknown location.

Al-Miyahi's article, published just two days prior to his disappearance, was a scathing critique of the Houthis' celebration of the Prophet Muhammad's birthday. The article expressed his disappointment with al-Houthi's speech at the Sabaeen Square in Sana'a, the capital.

"I just returned from Sabaeen Square, heartbroken for the fate of this people," Al-Miyahi wrote. "I feel the weight of disaster, face-to-face with vice in its complete and living form. We cannot allow this terrifying project to spread its falsehoods for even a moment longer. For a man as shallow as Abdulmalik to address the Yemeni crowds in Sabaeen Square, this scene should be a source of deep shame for every mind in this country."

He continued, "For the first time, I followed the leader's speech with intense focus. I tried to understand what this man is telling the people, what he is promising them, what the danger lies in his words, and where the appeal of his speech lies. I have become convinced firsthand of the gravity of the crime this lineage is committing against the people."

The abduction of Al-Miyahi comes amidst a wave of kidnappings by the Houthis targeting activists, social figures, and political figures in areas under their control, particularly in Sana'a, Taiz, and Hodeidah. This crackdown coincides with preparations for the 62nd anniversary of the September 26th revolution.

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