The Yemeni Journalist Syndicate confirmed earlier this week that five journalists, Yassin al-Zakari, Brahim al-Ashmori, Ahmed al-Shamiri, Naaman Asbahi and photographer Mohammed Achmamaram were kidnapped while covering a story in the eastern province of Marib.
This report comes amid warnings from Freedom Foundation, Yemen media watchdog, that Yemen press is under threat and journalists constantly persecuted and or harassed by various groups and factions.
The Yemeni Journalist Syndicate which is obviously very concerned as to the well-fare of the journalists have deplored officials' lack of interest in the matter, saying that so far little had been done to secure the men safe release.
The syndicate noted that as far as it could tell, the government had failed to appreciate the gravity of the situation, not understanding the kind of psychological pressure the men were currently put under while in captivity.
As in any other kidnapping situation, victims can experience severe psychological trauma, which can lead later on to post traumatic stress, depression and on extreme cases self-harm and suicidal tendencies.
Yemen Journalist Syndicate now called on President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi to intervene as well as Yemen Interior Minister and Marib Governor as to immediately intervene in the release of the prisoners and ensure that they are in the mean time well treated and cared for.
The Journalist Union is adamant that such crimes against the media can no longer be tolerated in a country which is aiming to build a strong civil state, stressing that it down to the authorities to put an end to such practices. The Union also demanded that the perpetrators be brought to justice to answer their crimes.
Yemen Journalist Syndicate explained that it will continue to monitor the situation closely, adding that it was planning to implement a series of protests and activities in the province of Marib to exert pressure on the authorities.
While Yemen supposedly won its battle against authoritarianism in 2011, when former President Ali Abdullah Saleh agreed to retire from the presidency before the end of his term, never before have journalists faced such violence and repression.