The Yemeni Media Freedoms Observatory (Marsadak) strongly condemns the assassination of journalist Mohammed Aydha, correspondent for Al Arabiya and Al Hadath TV channels, who was killed following the explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED) planted in his vehicle in the city of Mukalla, Hadramawt Governorate, this evening.
The Marsadak expresses its profound shock and concern over this grave crime, emphasizing that targeting journalists and media professionals constitutes a direct threat to press freedom and the freedom of opinion and expression, and undermines efforts aimed at creating a safe environment for media work in Yemen.
The Marsadak considers that the assassination of journalists does not merely target individuals but rather attacks society’s collective right to access information and knowledge. It also sends dangerous messages of intimidation to media professionals. Marsadak therefore calls on the relevant security and judicial authorities to promptly launch an urgent and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crime, identify those responsible, and ensure that they are brought to justice, thereby reinforcing the principle of ending impunity.
According to statements from several of Mohammed Aydha’s colleagues, he had previously received threats and reported them to the security authorities. These allegations warrant thorough investigation and should be taken into account as part of the ongoing inquiry.
The Marsadak stresses that this is not the first attack of its kind targeting journalists through explosives planted in vehicles. Journalist Rasha Al-Harazi was killed and her husband, journalist Mahmoud Al-Atmi, was injured when an explosive device planted in their car detonated in Aden in 2021. Similarly, journalist Saber Al-Haidari was killed in a comparable incident in Aden in 2022. The recurrence of this pattern of attacks highlights the serious threats facing journalists in Yemen and raises grave concerns about the continued impunity for crimes committed against media professionals.
With the killing of Mohammed Aydha, the number of journalists and media workers who have lost their lives in Yemen since 2015 has risen to 71, reflecting the alarming scale of risks and violations faced by the Yemeni press throughout the years of conflict.
The Marsadak extends its deepest condolences and sympathies to the family, colleagues, and friends of Mohammed Aydha. It reiterates its call for justice for the victim, accountability for all those involved in this crime, and the adoption of effective measures to protect journalists and media workers, ensuring that they can carry out their work freely and safely.
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