General Union of Yemeni Journalists denounces the Houthis' raid on a journalist's home and kidnapping him

The General Union of Yemeni Journalists condemned and denounced the Houthis' raid on journalist Khalid Al-Arasi's home, his abduction, and the terrorizing of his family due to his coverage of the issue of internationally banned pesticides used by the Houthis and traded in local markets, which has sparked public outrage.

The Union said in a statement on Saturday that this crime adds to the black record of the Houthi militia, which is filled with violations and crimes against journalists. They always work on arresting, executing death sentences, or seizing media institutions in order to practice corruption.

"The assault on Al-Arasi was due to his opposition to the Houthis smuggling large quantities of poisonous and carcinogenic pesticides into Yemen, including "mancozeb", "methyl bromide", and "dursban", which led to an increase in the number of cancer patients and other chronic diseases in areas under their control, in addition to its disastrous effects on the environment, soil, livestock, and groundwater". The statement said.

The Union affirms that the crimes committed by the Iran-backed Houthis against journalists and media institutions will not be forgotten with time, and that journalism and media continue to be a field for all free nationalists until the state institutions are restored and the capital Sanaa is liberated.

The Union called on local and international organizations concerned with press freedom to condemn the crimes committed by the Houthis against Yemeni journalists, the latest of which was the assault on Al-Arasi the journalist Khaled Al-Arasi, and intensify their efforts to pressure the militia to stop their ongoing abuses and violations against journalists and media institutions.