The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Wednesday called on Houthi de facto authorities in Yemen to immediately restore access to independent news platform Barran Press, following reports of a nationwide access ban on the outlet. Barran Press, which is based in the government-controlled city of Marib, east of Yemen’s capital Sanaa, first reported the issue on September 6, with users across the country unable to access its website for several days without a virtual private network (VPN).
In its statement, CPJ asserted that the Houthis’ blocking of the Barran Press reflects their “continued determination to target independent media and isolate Yemenis.” CPJ Regional Director Sarah Qudah called upon Houthi authorities, who control most of Yemen, to take the necessary action to restore user access to Barran Press: “The Houthis must stop weaponizing their control of Yemen’s telecommunications infrastructure and allow Yemenis free access to the internet and independent media.”
The Houthis, following their capture of Sanaa in 2014, have seized control of key telecommunication infrastructure in the country, and have undertaken to block over 200 local, regional, and international sites—including major regional outlets such as Al Arabiya and Al Jazeera—to silence dissent and isolate citizens from global and local independent news sources.
Mojamed al-Salhi, editor-in-chief of Barran Press, described the Houthis’ efforts as evidence of a systematic bias towards erasing independent journalism and monopolizing public discourse. In his view, the Houthis have “waged a war on media outlets…blocking those not under their control.”
“They only accept one voice—their voice—and journalists in Yemen are paying the price,” al-Salhi added.
Following the intervention of a Saudi-backed coalition during the country’s 2014 civil war in an attempt to restore the original Yemeni government to power, journalism has evolved from a mere profession to a perilous act of resistance. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reported a spike in journalist arrests across the country in July, following the unlawful two-week-long detention of journalist Mozahim Bajaber, as well as the abduction and detention of at least seven reporters by Houthi rebels since May. Yemen, which is ranked 154th out of 180 countries in the RSF World Press Freedom Index, continues to be one of the most dangerous places for media professionals, where intimidation, censorship, and arbitrary detention are regularly used to silence independent reporting and restrict access to reliable information. The Houthis, in particular, have been labeled by RSF as one of the most dangerous groups for journalists, second only to ISIS, in terms of targeting and hostage-taking.
Rights groups stress that the Houthis’ actions may constitute clear violations of international law protecting freedom of expression and have urged local and global communities to hold them accountable to ensure journalists in Yemen can continue to exercise their profession without fear of personal consequence.
