Al-Khaiwani Sprung!
I love writing that.
SANA’A, NewsYemen
Yemeni imprisoned journalist Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani left the Central Prison on Thursday after President Saleh gave him amnesty and canceled a six-year sentence issued by a primary court three months ago.
After leaving prison, al-Khaiwani told NY that his release is “a victory for all Yemeni journalist and civil society organizations and human rights advocates”.
Al-Khaiwani declined that security authorities have demanded him to sign any obligation before leaving the prison, but said they have asked him to commit to law and constitution. “I have assured them that I was always committed to law and constitution”, said al-Khaiwani.
Al-Khaiwani expressed his gratitude to his colleague journalists and rights activists.
“I am proud to belong to journalists who can defend democracy”.Yemeni Journalists Syndicate welcomed the presidential amnesty.
Al-Khaiwani was sentenced to six years in jail for allegedly supporting rebels in Sa’ada, north of Yemen and insulting President Saleh.
Local and international organizations have condemned the imprisonment of al-Khaiwani including the Amnesty International that has awarded him the 2008 award for “Journalists under Threat”.
