Yemen: Al-Qaeda confirmed journalist's execution in Hadhramaut after nine years' abduction

On 28 December, the Yemeni branch of Al Qaeda announced the execution of journalist Mohammed Qaed Al-Maqri, whom they accused of spying. The journalist was forcibly disappeared in October 2015. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate (YJS), in condemning this heinous crime, and demands that the perpetrators of this outrageous killing be held accountable.

Credit: YJS.

Journalist Mohammed Qaed Al-Maqri, a correspondent for TV channel Yemen Today, was abducted by the Yemeni branch of Al-Qaeda, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), in October 2015 in the southern governorate of Hadhramaut region. They kidnapped him while he was covering an anti-AQAP protest in Al-Mukalla, the capital of Hadhramaut.

Al-Maqri was executedtogether with eleven other civilians accused of espionage by Al-Qaeda.

The YJS issueda statement deploring this heinous crime committed by a terrorist organisation. "We call on the concerned authorities to investigate the crime, prosecute the criminals, and uncover the body of Muhammad Al-Maqri and hand it over to his family".

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: "We extend our deepest condolences to Mohammed Qaed Al-Maqri's beloved family and colleagues, and condemn his terrible execution, which is a hard blow to press freedom and to the journalistic community worldwide. The IFJ demands that the perpetrators of this heinous crime be held accountable. It also urges de facto authorities and other armed groups to release all unfairly imprisoned journalists, wherever they might be".

The YJS and the IFJ campaignedfor Al-Maqri's release on several occasions.