Mahmoud Al-Hamidi, a journalist working for Al Arabiya news channel, received death threats for his reporting on airstrikes that targeted areas under the control of the Houthis. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate (YJS), in condemning these death threats, and is calling on the authorities to provide the journalist and his family with protection.
Mahmoud Al-Hamidi is a journalist working for the Saudi Arabian state-owned media outlet Al Arabiya in Marib Governorate. On 26 July, he received a phone call following his reporting on airstrikes targeting Houthi-controlled sites. During the call, he was accused of being a mercenary and an agent. The caller also threatened to target him and his family wherever they may be.
These threats raise serious concerns that Al-Hamidi could be subjected to harm or targeted attacks, particularly given the numerous cases of journalist assassinations in Yemen. This includes the case of Mohammed Ayedah, Al Arabiya’s correspondent in Hadramout, who had previously received threats before being killed in June 2026 when a bomb targeted his vehicle. This case demonstrates that ignoring threats against journalists can have tragic consequences and highlights the urgent need for effective and immediate measures to protect journalists and ensure their safety.
The YJS said in a statement: “The Yemeni Journalists Syndicate condemns these threats, which come amid the continued risks facing Yemeni journalists across various governorates. The Syndicate warns against any harm to journalist Al-Hamidi or his family and calls on the authorities to provide them with full protection. The Syndicate also calls on the relevant authorities to investigate these threats, identify those responsible, and hold them accountable in accordance with the law.”
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “We strongly condemn the threats and intimidation received by Al-Hamidi and his family. These are blatant attacks on press freedom and the public’s right to information. We urge the authorities to conduct a prompt investigation and hold the perpetrators to account. We also reiterate our call on the government to cooperate with the YJS in setting up a national media safety mechanism to protect journalists.”
Source: IFJ
