Today in Yemen: Death Threats
(Update: One threatening letter described Qahtan as an “Islah rabid dog whose end will be like that of any rabid dog or any traitor to his homeland and people”. )
Communiqué about the Death Threat Received by Mr. Mohammed Qahtan Head of the Political Bureau of the Yemeni Congregation for Reform (Islah):
The Yemeni Forum for Change (YFC), which is a private, not for profit, and non-partisan organization focusing on issues related to democratic change and human rights in Yemen, is very concerned about the death threat received by Mr. Mohammed Qahtan, Head of the Political Bureau of the Yemeni Congregation for Reform (a.k.a, Islah) which is the biggest opposition party in Yemen. Qahtan, who is one of the most vocal critics of government, has received a two-page letter containing a death threat and delivered to the doorstep of his house in the early morning of Tuesday Nov. 1. 2005.
The YFC strongly condemns this type of terror against a Yemeni politician exercising his rights within constitutional and legal limits, and it calls on domestic and international legal and human rights organizations to denounce such a heinous act.
The death threat to Mr. Qahtan comes at a time in which the Yemeni government has escalated its harassment, intimidation, and in some instances beatings of Yemeni journalists, opposition and independent politicians. The government harassment has extended to include the head of the YFC, Dr. Abdullah Al-faqih, whose countryside relatives in Ibb governorate have been subjected at beginning of the month of Ramadan to harassing calls from officers in the Political Security Organization (PSO) which is an extra constitutional institution answerable only to president Saleh. This occurred shortly after the YFC held a symposium to discuss political reforms in Yemen.
In light of current circumstances in Yemen and as a response to deteriorating political and economic conditions, the YFC calls on intellectuals, journalists, and social figures inside and outside Yemen to increase pressure on the Yemeni government to do the following:
1. Protect its citizens and hold those responsible for these terrorizing acts accountable in front of the law; failing to do so will only implicate government officials in the conspiracy to terrorize journalists and activists.
2. Cease all types of harassment, intimidation, and terrorizing acts directed against opposition figures, journalists and activists.
3. Positively and unconditionally respond to calls for national dialogue that includes all relevant political forces and address immediate political and economic challenges facing the country.
4. Work with other forces in society to build a democratic culture which enables Yemenis to peacefully work their political differences.
5. Take urgent steps to combat corruption which has become the number one obstacle to political and economic development in Yemen.
Sana’a, Republic of Yemen. November 2, 2005
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