The Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ) has strongly condemned the recent arrest of Abduljabar Bajabeer, a prominent Yemeni journalist, intensifying global concern over the ongoing suppression of media freedom in war-torn Yemen. Bajabeer was apprehended on July 28 in the Hadramout governorate, a region caught in the throes of Yemen's enduring conflict.

In a public statement, CPJ demanded the immediate release of Bajabeer and called on Yemen’s Internationally Recognized Government (IRG) to halt its intimidation tactics against journalists. Carlos Martinez de la Serna from CPJ criticized the arrest as "yet another example of the systematic campaign to silence journalists" in areas under IRG control.

Adding to the chorus of disapproval, the National Organization of Yemeni Media Professionals issued a statement decrying the government's actions as a blatant violation of the legally protected rights to freedom of expression. They highlighted the precarious conditions under which journalists operate in Hadramout and called for both national and international press freedom entities to take action against this "dangerous escalation" which threatens the local media landscape.

The arrest of Bajabeer, who serves as the general director of the TV3ad channel, follows similar detentions of other journalists like Sabri bin Mukhshen and Muhahim Bejaber, who have faced persecution in response to their critical reporting on local governance issues. Notably, Bejaber’s previous detention lasted over a month without a formal presentation to a prosecutor, a clear violation of Yemen's criminal procedure law.

Legal analysts point out that the warrant issued for Bajabeer's arrest by a specialized criminal court, which also targeted his colleagues, contravenes Article 13 of Yemen’s Press and Publications Law. This law explicitly safeguards journalists from prosecution over the expression of their opinions.

This is not the first instance of CPJ demanding cessation of journalist persecution in Yemen. Earlier in February, they reacted to the imprisonment of Aziz Al-Ahmadi, who was sentenced after expressing critical views about the government on social media platforms.

Yemen's civil war, which erupted in 2014 following the rise of the Houthi group backed by Iran, has created a complex and fragmented power landscape. The Southern Transitional Council, with support from the United Arab Emirates, controls significant portions of the south, while the Houthis hold large areas in the north. Both regions are notorious for their harsh treatment of journalists, with rights violations occurring with near-total impunity.

As the conflict persists, United Nations experts have recently sounded alarms over the dire situation, urging international intervention to prevent the escalation into a broader conflict. Amidst these turbulent conditions, the plight of journalists like Bajabeer remains emblematic of the broader struggle for press freedom and human rights within Yemen.