Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) strongly condemns the attempted assassination of Mohammed Shabita, Secretary-General of the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate and Assistant Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Journalists, in Sana'a on Tuesday, May 8, 2024.

At approximately 11:30 AM, Shabita was traveling with two relatives when his car came under heavy gunfire near the Ministry of Information in Sana'a, which is currently under Houthi control. The attackers, whose identities remain unknown, shot Shabita multiple times in the abdomen and leg, killing one of his relatives and injuring another.

This brazen attack on Shabita, who was clearly targeted due to his journalistic and union work, constitutes a heinous crime against humanity. It represents a blatant violation of international conventions and aims to silence remaining journalists and opinion holders in Yemen, preventing them from expressing their views.

WJWC stands in complete solidarity with Shabita and holds the Houthi militia fully responsible for his safety and well-being. We demand an immediate and comprehensive investigation into this horrific crime, with the perpetrators brought to justice and held accountable for their actions.

We urge the international community, human rights organizations, and supporters of freedom of expression worldwide to strongly condemn this act of violence and exert pressure on all parties to the conflict, particularly the Houthi militia, to cease their relentless attacks on journalists and media professionals.

Issued by:

Women Journalists Without Chains 

May 8, 2024.