Mohammed Al-Asaadi
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Re:Editor imprisoned, paper shut down over Cartoons - 2006/11/29 02:44
It is only 8 days remaining between the basement cell and me, God forbid. I expect the announcement of my verdict next December 6. My colleague Kamal Al-Ulofi, who was sentenced to one year jail time and shut down of his paper. He is also banned from writing for 18 months. His crime was that he ran an image of the website of the Danish newspaper on which the cartoons were visible. He was prosecuted and punished for insulting Islam. Read here: http://www.yobserver.com/article-11296.php
I have been prosecuted according to the same charges. I republished three obscured thumbnail-sized cartoons in with a report in February. I wanted to show the society the cause of the international fuss and disturbance. On the same page and in the same report, I printed images of Muslims' reactions: protests, boycott and counter drawing. I wanted to show the cause and result.
I wrote an editorial urging Muslims and governments to accept the apologies and move on... http://www.yobserver.com/cgi-bin/2007/exec/view.cgi/22/9445
My newspaper’s license was revoked and the paper was suspended for three months. I was taken to jail – in a dark unhealthy basement – for 12 days with criminals, smugglers and other people. I had a terrible experience. After those days, I was released on bail, but the trial continues. In addition to the press prosecutor, 21 private prosecutors were commissioned by a radical and influential sheikh to prosecute us. The sheikh collected more than five million Yemeni rials (about $ 25000) from mosques in few days to prosecute us.
My family had a miserable time; my mum and dad live in a village in the countryside about 6 hours off-the-road drive from my work city. They heard the news on BBC that the private called for a death punishment for me for insulting the prophet (PBUH) and the really did in an indirect way. Anyone can imagine how the reaction of one’s parent to such news, especially being their source of pride.
I have been suffering from different accusations and even jokes by people around me who usually attach some bad words to my name like: infidel, abuser and so on.
Now after ten months of trial, the local and international journalist community was shocked by the sentence against my colleague. I am afraid, a similar or smoother sentence may be made against me. I am really worried about the idea of getting convicted let alone the punishment.
If got convicted, it means that I can be always blackmailed, harassed and intimated if not attacked by authorities or by extremist groups.
This is in brief what I went through and I wish that all the sacrifices my colleagues and I are making will ultimately bring about a real press freedom in my country. Though the fear is surrounding me everywhere I go, I am willing and determined to continue this mission whatever were the sacrifices.
Thank you all very much for your solidarity, support and encouragement. Let’s unite for a better understanding among our nations and struggle hard to protect our rights to voice peoples’ concerns.
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