In a distressing development from Yemen, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urgently demanded the release of Majed Zayed, a Yemeni freelance journalist reportedly abducted by Houthi authorities in Sanaa on September 23. This incident is part of a broader crackdown that has seen a wave of detentions targeting media personnel and dissidents in the region.

Zayed's abduction occurred shortly after he left a medical facility, following his online sharing of a patriotic song celebrating Yemen's Republic Day—a national day that the Houthi authorities do not acknowledge. His current location remains a mystery, sparking widespread condemnation and raising alarms about his safety and the freedom of press in Yemen.

The crackdown extended beyond Zayed, with reports emerging of similar abductions, including that of poet and writer Oras Al-Iryani. These detentions typically intensify around significant dates like Republic Day, underscoring a pattern of repression tied to political events by the Houthi officials.

The SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties has connected these abductions to retaliations against individuals commemorating the September 26 revolution through various expressions, including social media engagements and flag displays. They, alongside CPJ, are calling for immediate actions to secure the release of the detainees and for independent investigations into these enforced disappearances.

This string of detentions reflects a broader context of threats against journalists not only in Houthi-controlled areas but across Yemen. In July, the Yemen’s Internationally Recognized Government (IRG) detained TV director Abduljabar Bajabeer in Hadramout. Human Rights Watch has documented multiple abuses by various parties, including arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, torture, and even newsroom closures.

The media landscape in Yemen remains grimly polarized, with outlets frequently pressured to align with local power holders. This environment has significantly hindered free journalism and access to unbiased information, with Yemen ranking 154 out of 180 countries in the latest World Press Freedom Index.

Adding to the media's plight, an Israeli strike on a newspaper complex in Sanaa on September 10 killed 31 journalists and media staff, marking it as one of the deadliest attacks on journalists in recent history.

Amid these challenges, press groups and human rights organizations continue to advocate for transparency, urging Houthi authorities to reveal Zayed's whereabouts, allow him access to legal counsel and family, and ultimately secure his release. The global community joins in calling for an end to the enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions that plague Yemen's journalistic landscape, urging all factions within Yemen to commit to protecting and upholding the rights to free expression and access to information.