A deadly incident happened on Tuesday when journalists Rasha Abdullah al-Hazari and Mohmud al-Utmi her husband were about to drive to the hospital to do a check-up on Rasha’s pregnancy but the car exploded to bits. Only Mohmud survived the accident but his wife and the unborn baby died on the spot. A fellow journalist who doesn’t want to reveal her name for security reasons and is good friends with the couple said that she couldn’t believe they would be a victim of an attack. Mahmud used to work as a freelancer for the Emirati television station Al-Ain.
It is rumored that he used to work for the Saudi media outlets which used to harshly report on the Huthis. They had moved out of Sanaa and it is said that he captured human rights abuses due to which they were concerned for their safety. Their acquaintances feel that the attack was aimed at him. Aden, which is 400 kilometers south of Sanaa, has been administered by separatists as part of a Southern Transitional Council. Yemeni journalists have been facing threats due to the reporting on the collapse of their country since President Ali Abdullah Saleh was overthrown due to the Arab uprisings in 2012.
‘Net Zero’ Pledge by Saudi Arabia
For seven years civil wars have been taking place which is funded and fueled by foreign entities. A coalition led by Saudi Arabia has been assisting the government since 2015. Iran which is considered Saudi Arabia’s enemy has been supporting the Huthis and now actually controls the capital of the country Sanaa. Due to the wars fought for the control of the south between the countries, many Yemeni officials have fled the country and resided in Saudi Arabia. A press officer from Reporters without Borders stated that the journalists are often the casualties of the war as they are seen as a part of the conflict party. Due to which they barely have any protection.
