Sana’a, June 6, 2008 (YemenOnline) - The situation grows more perilous by the day in the small nation of Yemen, on the tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Every day come new reports of mosque bombings, attacks on Western embassies, regrouping of terrorist organizations, and rebel advances towards the capital, Sana. In the face of such threats, the government has toughened its stance -- against journalists. Yemen has been freeing convicted terrorists, while imprisoning journalists. 

The most troubling case involves the respected Yemeni journalist Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani, an outspoken advocate of democracy and press freedom, who faces a possible death sentence when he returns to court on June 9. 

Al-Khaiwani's latest clash with Yemeni authorities started late one night last June, when police broke into his apartment and awakened him with body blows. He was forced into custody and charged with "plotting to topple the ruling regime." This was not his first encounter with the regime's methods. His work as editor of the opposition newspaper al-Shura had already earned him the wrath of the government, and repeated beatings and imprisonments. 

Al-Khaiwani insists his aim has been to hold the government to its own democratic assertions. "I am paying the price for believing the government and its claims about pursuing democracy," he wrote to the Beirut-based website Menassat.com. 

The official reason for the journalist's imprisonment stems from his coverage of the Huthi rebellion, a complicated uprising named after its reportedly slain leader Hussein Badreddin al-Huthi. That rebellion broke out four years ago in the country's northwest, near the border with Saudi Arabia. The little-publicized war between government forces and Shiite rebels has left thousands dead and thousands more displaced, and it continues to rage. Yemen blames Iran for aiding the rebels. (Iran denies the charges.) Critics accuse Sana of using excessive force and targeting civilians. 

That conflict may explain one of the more baffling aspects of Yemen's prison system: the astonishingly frequent "escapes" of convicted terrorists. Locals say President Ali Abdullah Saleh is releasing Sunni terrorists in order to strengthen his standing with Sunnis in the battle with Shiites. Among the terrorists who have escaped meaningful punishment are the perpetrators of the 2000 attack on the U.S.S. Cole in the Yemeni port of Aden, which killed 17 American sailors. Despite a number of arrests, escapes, and recaptures, it is believed that not a single one of the plotters is in custody. Two of the Cole plotters committed suicide bombings in Iraq. 

Journalists are barred from the region of the Huthi rebellion, but al-Khaiwani managed to obtain photographs and reports that were damaging to the government. Now the government says al-Khaiwani is aiding the rebels, and is trying him as a terrorist. 

In reality, government anger at al-Khaiwani long predates his coverage of the rebellion. His reports have uncovered entrenched corruption and human rights abuses. After one of his many stays in prison, he wrote a scathing expose of conditions in jail, including information about imprisoned children. Among the pieces the government found most irritating was an article revealing a secret plan by President Saleh to pass the presidency to his son. Al-Khaiwani was charged with the crime of "insulting the president." 

After his latest imprisonment, al-Khaiwani was released on bail and promptly pummeled by thugs he believes were acting on government orders. Even if he manages to escape a death sentence, he says he believes the government plans to kill him. Late last year he delivered his last will and testament to the offices of Amnesty International. 

Human rights organizations are among the many groups now championing al-Khaiwani's cause. Letter writing campaigns, petitions, and statements from members of Congress are pressuring Yemen's president to drop the charges against al-Khaiwani. 

One of the most active campaigns was launched by New Jersey housewife Jane Novak, who became a pro-democracy blogger after 9/11, and developed a friendship with al-Khaiwani. Her emails to him are part of the government's case against the journalist. On her blog Novak has started an Internet petition for his release and in the process reportedly has become a celebrity in Yemen, a place she has never visited. Muslim organizations such as the American Islamic Congress have also organized support for al-Khaiwani. The AIC declared that, "The Yemeni government has been lax with terrorists and brutal with reporters. That is unacceptable." 

There are some signs that the pressure may yield results. But even if al-Khaiwani is ultimately freed, the lack of press freedoms in Yemen is evidence of the darkest instincts of a regime ranked as "Not Free" by Freedom House. 

The question for Yemen, and other un-free Middle East governments is what political options they will give their people. Suppression of liberal ideas will only create more religious extremists. But somehow, dictators seem to feel safer when the threat is from terrorists rather than from democrats. 

Source: Worldpoliticsreview.com
By: Frida Ghitis
June 05, 2008  
Frida Ghitis is an independent commentator on world affairs and a World Politics Review contributing editor.
Photo: Yemeni journalist Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani