Yemen Orders Release of Award Winning Journalist Al-Khaiwani: Reports
Yemen’s president Ali Abduallah Saleh has ordered the release of imprisoned journalist, Abdulkarim Al-Khaiwani, the opposition “Al-Eshteraki” is reporting.
Mr. Al-Khaiwani, a noted regime critic, received a six year sentence in June, on purported “terror” charges. A global campaign eventually merged the efforts of 37 journalists organizations, Yemeni activists, American bloggers and civil rights groups. Al-Khaiwani was awarded Amnesty International’s Human Rights Media Award after his imprisonment in recognition of his work covering the humanitarian costs of a little known conflict in Yemen’s northern Sa’ada province. Earlier this month, Yemen denied a visa to the president of the International Journalist’s Federation, Jim Boumelha, who intended to award the honor to Mr. al-Khaiwani in his jail cell.
Al-Khaiwani was supposed to be included in the prior release of political prisoners this month that included comedian Fahd al-Qarni and Socialist Party leader Hassan Baoum according to a dialog between Yemen’s opposition parties and its ruling GPC party. However, while these prominent dissidents and nearly a thousand southern protesters were granted their freedom, al-Khaiwani remains behind bars. It is unclear if the reports of al-Khaiwani’s impending release are grounded in fact, or just another of the GPC’s bargaining tactics in the lead up to Yemen’s 2009 Parliamentary elections.
Update: YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Its true. He’s not released yet but its true and in process.
