Al-Shar'e Newspaper's case adjourned, lawyer contests court's legality

In its second session, the State Specialized Penal Court presided over by Judge Ridwan Nimr held a series of hearing to defense submitted on Saturday by the lawyer of Al-Shar'e Editor-in-Chief Naif  Hassan who challenged the legality of the court before which Hassan and other two fellow journalists stand trials.

Judge Nimr also decided to adjourn the next session until January 5 to enable the court to refute the defense's allegations.

The session came in a series of session held for trailing Al-Shar'e Newspaper against a case raised by Defense Ministry over publishing Bashmargah file in the paper's first issue.

In its statement, Yemeni Journalists Syndicate expressed its concern over the continuous trials of journalists before penal courts, hinting this attitude by state goes against the opinion and expression freedom.

Meanwhile, Freedoms Committee at the Syndicate is working now in preparing a report dealing with the situation of press in Yemen over the last three years. The committee points out that over 110 violations have been recorded so far.

 Hassan, Nabeel Subi'e and Mahmoud Taha Al-Zain, who prepared the file, face trials whose punishment could reach capital punishment.

Meanwhile, Hassan left on Friday to Beirut along with Sami Noman to participate in the second forum meant for discussing the freedom of Arab press, opportunities and challenges that stand ahead.