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Qatar Press Center Condemns Killing of Yemeni Journalist

The Qatar Press Center strongly condemns the assassination of Yemeni journalist and filmmaker Musab Abdelhafidh Al-Hattami, who was killed in a Houthi drone strike south of Marib Governorate in northeastern Yemen.

The center calls for a thorough investigation into the incident, as well as into the broader crimes targeting journalists and media workers in Yemen. It also demands accountability for those involved in these ongoing violations.

The center urges the protection of journalists' safety and freedom, and the creation of a secure, independent, and enabling environment for media professionals in Yemen—empowering them to carry out their work freely without fear of persecution or arrest. It further calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained journalists and media workers.

Al-Hattami was accompanied by three others when the Houthi drone targeted the filming site while he was working on a documentary film. His brother, Sohaib Al-Hattami, a photographer, was injured in the incident.

Sarah Qaddah, the regional director for the Committee to Protect Journalists, stressed that Musab Al-Hattami’s killing is a stark reminder to the international community that the warring parties in Yemen are violating international law by killing civilians. “This random violence puts all journalists who bravely document the war in Yemen at great risk,” she added. “We call on the international community to investigate the attack and hold those responsible accountable.”

Al-Hattami had previously left Yemen for Jordan, where he studied cinema, then moved to the Netherlands where he obtained Dutch citizenship. He worked as a freelance journalist, producing documentaries and writing for various media outlets, including Al Jazeera.

He had recently returned to Yemen with his wife to prepare a documentary film about his parents’ hometown.

Targeting Journalists

The Yemeni Journalists Syndicate also condemned the killing of the young journalist and filmmaker Musab Abdelhafidh Al-Hattami and reiterated its call for a transparent and comprehensive investigation into all crimes committed against journalists and media workers. The syndicate demanded that those involved in these ongoing violations be held accountable.

It noted that Al-Hattami, who held both Dutch and Yemeni citizenships, held a bachelor's degree in film directing from Jordan and had participated in both local and international productions of several documentary and short films. He also competed in international film contests and contributed to works on Al Jazeera and Al Jazeera Documentary as a director and cameraman.

The syndicate stated that Al-Hattami had returned to Marib over a month ago to continue his media projects with his wife.

The Yemen Media Freedom Observatory also issued a strong condemnation of Al-Hattami's killing, stating that the targeting of Musab and his brother represents a continuation of serious violations against journalists and media workers. According to the Observatory, 54 journalists and media professionals have lost their lives over the past few years.

Media and human rights organizations inside and outside Yemen report that journalists continue to face various violations and crimes from all parties to the conflict. Yemen currently ranks 169th out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, an organization dedicated to defending press freedom.