Yemeni Forces Shoot Protesters, Kill Journalist

By Naomi Hunt

(SANA’A, YEMEN) – At least one journalist was killed when Yemeni security forces opened fire on protestors in the capital Sanaa today, according to news reports and local journalists.

Jamal Ahmed al-Sharabi was shot while covering the violent crackdown on Change Square for Al-Masdar independent newspaper, Yemeni Journalists Syndicate spokesperson Thuraya Dammaj told IPI by email today.  

Al-Sharabi was also a member of the group Journalists for Change, reports say, and worked in media management at the Supreme Committee for Elections and Referendum, according to Dammaj.

The Yemeni government has come under heavy criticism for the use of live ammunition against peaceful protestors; reports say that at least 30 people, including children, were killed and many more wounded.

“Our condolences go out to Jamal al-Sharabi’s family, friends and colleagues,” said IPI Press Freedom Manager Anthony Mills. “We are disturbed by allegations that al-Sharabi may have been killed by security forces, and urge the authorities to conduct a full investigation. It is unacceptable that journalists reporting on the ongoing uprisings in the Arab world be made to pay with their lives just for doing their job.”

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