Geneva – SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties stated that Yemeni journalist Yassin Al-Aqlani received direct and serious threats after publishing a report exposing irregularities related to high school exams for Yemeni students residing in the Arab Republic of Egypt. SAM warned that this incident reflects a growingly hostile environment towards journalists in Yemen and reveals systematic efforts to silence dissent and retaliate against investigative journalism.
According to a report submitted by journalist Al-Aqlani to SAM, he received a phone call on the afternoon of Monday, May 19, 2025, from an individual named Abdulhadi Al-Shudhabi, the brother of Dr. Abdulghani Al-Shudhabi, Deputy Minister of Education for Curriculum and Guidance. The call included an explicit threat in which the caller stated, “You don’t know me, I’m Abdulhadi Al-Shudhabi — we’ll come handcuff you and take you to Aden,” after learning of the journalist’s current presence in Taiz Governorate.
SAM noted that these threats followed an official and professional attempt by journalist Al-Aqlani to contact the Deputy Minister, informing him that he had reliable sources and expressing his full readiness to publish any clarification or response through the Yemen Shabab Net website, in accordance with the legally and ethically guaranteed right of reply. SAM explained that disregarding these legal avenues and resorting to threats—particularly through a family member—not only violates press freedom but also severely undermines the standing of public officials.
SAM emphasized that the threats made against journalist Yassin Al-Aqlani constitute a blatant violation of journalistic rights and freedoms. The organization stressed that such acts send alarming signals about the state of media freedom in Yemen, threaten journalists’ safety, and foster a climate of intimidation and psychological violence against members of the press.
SAM underscored that respecting freedom of publication and access to information are fundamental pillars of any democratic system. It affirmed that officials must respond through legal and formal channels—away from threats or intimidation—as such behavior undermines the credibility of public institutions and erodes public trust.
The Organization called on relevant national and international bodies, including the Yemeni Attorney General, the Yemeni Journalists’ Syndicate, and the International Federation of Journalists, to take urgent and responsible action to ensure the protection of journalist Yasin Al-Aqlani. The organization emphasized the importance of a prompt and transparent investigation into the threats he received, holding those responsible to account, and reinforcing safeguards that prevent similar acts of intimidation, which pose a serious threat to press freedom and the integrity of independent journalism in Yemen.