IFJ Blames State Violence over Killing of Journalist in Yemen

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the use of violence which led to the killing of freelance journalist Jamal Shar'abi who was killed on Friday in Taghier Square when gunmen fired on the protesters in the capital Sana'a.

"This killing is the inevitable and tragic end to a terrible seven days for media in Yemen," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "The Government bears a heavy responsibility because of its heavy handed tactics in dealing with protesters that has increased the risks for journalists."

The news of the journalist' death followed the expulsions last week of six foreign reporters amid escalating anti-governments protest. Italian photojournalist Marco Di Lauro and his American colleague Patrick Symmes who writes for US travel magazine Outside were detained at the airport in Sana'a as they returned from visiting historic sites and the Socotra Islandbefore being expelled from the country.

In a targeted sweep on foreign reporters, four other journalists were ordered to leave -- Oliver Holmes, a stringer for the Wall Street Journal and Time, Portia Walker, a correspondent of the Washington Post, Haley Sweetland Edwards, of the Los Angeles Times and AOL News and Joshua Maricich, a contributor to various newspapers. According to the international broadcaster Aljazeera, two of its reporters were also deported on Sunday and its office in Sana'a was ransacked by attackers with police looking on.

The IFJ says the attacks on media are also directed at Yemeni journalists following an attack on the offices of its affiliated organisation in the country, the Yemeni Journalists' Syndicate (YJS) by a group of thugs who threatened to burn it down. The Federation wrote on 14 March to President Ali Abdallah Saleh of Yemen to request his urgent intervention to end systematic attacks on journalists.

"The Government has declared war on media and their attacks on journalists during the unrest signals signal that they are aiming to shut down media and stifle dissent in all its forms," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "Journalists are targets and government scapegoats to cover their own failure to contain the wave of popular protest in favour of political reform. This is a dangerous and ultimately futile policy which will only lead to yet more tragedy unless it is ended now."