Rally Organizers Face May Death Penalty in Yemen
Aden, Yemen: The Public Security Department (PSD) submitted charges against a top opposition leader and an editor to Aden’s prosecutor in connection with a January 13 demonstration at which four protesters were killed when police opened fire on the crowd.
Ayman Mohammed Nasser, editor of Attariq newspaper and Ali Monassar, head of the Yemeni Socialists Party, may face treason charges for organizing the demonstration. The charges carry a potential death penalty. No charges have been filed against the police officers or their commanders in connection with the four deaths.
Ali Monassar, Socialist Party leader in Aden
faces treason charges for organizing a rally
Reliable sources in Aden report many organizers of the festival, which urged national reconciliation, are under investigation.
Ali Monassar, who also heads the opposition coalition Joint Meeting Parties in Aden Governorate, refused to attend the investigation in prosecution office located in Sheikh Othman district.
Editor in Chief of Aden’s Attariq newspaper, Ayman Mohammed Nasser, was subject to three hours of interrogation yesterday by the prosecutor. Nasser denied all accusations made by the agent of prosecution office.
AOL received information that the charges leveled by the PSD and forwarded to the prosecutor include:
1. Aggression towards the independent of Yemen republic.
2. Threat of security and social stability.
3. Exposing the public transportation to danger.
4. Mischief to private property.
Editor Ayman Nasser called before the prosecutor.
The Yemeni regime attributes the citizens’ deaths to an “infiltrator” who wrested a gun away from a security official and then shot into the crowd. Witnesses however report multiple security personnel were shooting, and video of the protest indicates the shooting lasted several minutes.
Update: Yemen Times covers Editor
Likewise, Al-Sheik O’thman Prosecution Court in Aden investigated with Aymen M. Nasser, the Editor in Chief of Al-Tareek newspaper, as he and other people participated in the Reconciliation and Forgiveness Rally which took place on Jan.13 in Al-Hashemi square in Al-Sheik O’thman city.
Accompanied by three lawyers, Nasser requested the prosecution court to let him know the charge directed against him. He was told that investigation was based on a notification made by the governorate security in Aden against him and others. The charge, according to the governorate security notification, is, “Transgressing the Republic’s independence, shaking security and social stability as well as exposing transportation to jeopardy, and damaging private properties.”
Attended by his lawyers, Nasser was being investigated from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
“I was asked 23 questions regarding my relationship with the rally and its preparation and the names of the organizers,” said Nasser.
“As a journalist and a participant, I was also investigated about the purpose and reasons why committees were formed to organize the rally and also the number of banners and slogans chanted. The investigators also asked me about if there were slogans chanted against the national unity or inciting violence and feuds. I denied all these charges,” he said.
Nasser was in charge of the media committee for the rally, in which three people were shot dead and tens were injured. This came after fierce clashes took place between the security personnel and protesters who chanted secessionist slogans.
Nasser also said that the charge against him in the security notice also carries the penalty of the death sentence according to Yemeni law.
