RSF: Houthi militia kidnaps journalists and holds them hostages in private jails

RSF: Houthi militia kidnaps journalists and holds them hostages in private jails

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said that militias of Houthis and ousted president Ali Saleh have kidnapped journalists and held them hostages in private prisons, without being able to contact their relatives.

RSF, in its annual report “the annual worldwide round-up of journalists who are detained, held hostage or missing”, said 348 journalists worldwide are either detained, held hostage or missing, representing an increase 6% higher than the number of the last year.

According the RSF’s report, Houthi militia is placed after Daesh in the list of those committing crimes against the press.

After the Houthi militia led by Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi seized control of the capital Sanaa in September 2014, many journalists and media contributors have been kidnapped or have disappeared, stated the report.

RSF also noted that Houthis are currently holding at least 15 journalists, and many media workers found themselves forced to stop working or leave the country.

According to the report, two journalists have been kidnapped this year; one of them Youssef Ajlan who worked for almasdaronline.net.

“After Houthi fighters stormed the website’s offices in March, he had decided to stop working as a journalist because it was too dangerous,” continued the report, adding that he, nonetheless, was kidnapped from in front of his home by Houthis on 13 October and has been detained in prison under their control, without being able to contact family or colleagues.

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