My friend and fellow Cotillion member, Jane Novak, has been blogging regularly and brilliantly about the corruption of the Yemeni government at her blog, the Armies of Liberation (she is also a contributor at the Jawa Report). The government of Yemen has little or no regard for human rights, and actively suppresses journalists who seek to uncover and promote the truth.
One of the most recent examples of this is Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani -
Renowned journalist Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani is one of Yemen's most prominent democracy advocates - for which he has paid a steep price. His paper has been closed, his website blocked, and his children threatened. He is now due to be sentenced on May 21 for "insulting the president" and "demoralizing the military."
During his arrest in June of 2007, Al-Khaiwani was beaten and his six-year-old daughter slapped unconscious. While released on bail in August, Al-Khaiwani was kidnapped and tortured by thugs who threatened his life if he continued to write about Yemen's president.
There is a petition up to protect media freedom in Yemen, and I am asking my readers to please go sign it. Jane has been working hard on this man's behalf, and to try and help bring democracy and journalistic freedom to Yemen. As a matter of fact, she's become a bit of a bête-noir and a thorn in the flesh to the Yemeni government!
So, any and all support would be much appreciated!
UPDATE: Here's Jane's post at Armies of Liberation (scroll down, it's halfway down the page), and her post at Jawa; both have lots of links to additional information.
Also:
