The Freedom Foundation said on Sunday it had documented 359 attacks against reporters and media organizations in Yemen during 2014.
There were 11 types of abuses committed by 8 violators on top of which were militant groups, it said.
The attacks included 2 killings of reporters, 13 attempted killings, 29 arrests, 58 physical assaults, 12 forced disappearances and kidnappings, 4 illegal trials, 25 illegal terminations, 42 loot and damage cases, 44 oral offenses, 50 cases of coverage barring and equipment confiscation and 80 cases of threats.
Yemeni TV show director Abdulrahman Hamid Al-Din was shot dead on August 16th in Sanaa and the US photojournalist Luke Somers was shot dead by Al-Qaeda during a US failed rescue operation on December 6th.
"The number and types of attacks on media were higher in 2014 than 2013 and the media in Yemen is currently facing serious dangers," it said in the annual report on the media freedom. The report, which included details about all abuses, was conducted in association with the EU mission in the country and is expected to be published next month.
"Based on documented cases, the attacks on Yemeni media increased in the second half of 2014 mainly due to the developments in the capital city of Sanaa and other northern cities," it said.
The surge in attacks was mainly because of deepening power vacuum when the authorities remained idle and could not protect people including journalists, it said, pointing out that the Houthi Militant Group's takeover of the capital boosted violations.
The militant groups were involved in more attacks than the authorities in the second half and the opposite happened in the first half, it said.
Comparing the attacks in the second half with those in the first, the foundation said the attacks in the second half of 2014 increased in numbers and degree of danger. These attacks included storming and shutting down media organizations, confiscation of media equipment and taking over compounds. Such attacks were against the law and resulted in most cases in halts to broadcast and publication services, it said.
In terms of those responsible for attacks, the foundation reported that 30% of the attacks were carried out militant groups, 24% by unknown perpetrators, 19.4% by military and security apparatuses, 4.7% by the authorities, 0.3% by political parties, 8.1% by powerful figures, 1.2% by the judiciary and 10.9% by employers.