Yemen Observer

The "Yemen Observer" is an English-language, twice-weekly newspaper published in the Republic of Yemen. It was founded in 1996 by Faris Sanabani, aide and press secretary of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Its editors include chief editor Zaid Al-Alaya'a, front page editor Abdul-Aziz Oudha, health page editor Thuria Ghaleb, culture page editor Huda Al-Kibsi, and editing secretary Fares Anam.

Since 1996, the "Yemen Observer Publishing House" [http://www.yobserver.com] has diversified dramatically from a single bi-weekly newspaper to a five-armed media institution, publishing both in English and in Arabic: "Yemen Today". [http://www.yemen-today.com] , "Arabia Felix". [http://www.arabia-felix.com] , Sports, and Spectrum are examples for the company's fast and successful expansion.

Today, it has become the first English-speaking publishing house of the country, actively supporting Yemen in its socio-economic transition.

In that sense, the recently launched magazine "Yemen Today" [http://www.yemen-today.com] is the most dynamic branch of the Publishing House, promoting investment and tourism in Yemen, a country which has promising potential in this field.

2006 cartoon thumbnails and blasphemy trial

On 4 February 2006, the "Yemen Observer" carried two articles on Muslim reactions to the Danish cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad. The articles were accompanied by photographs showing 20-30,000 Yemeni women demonstrating against the cartoons, and empty shelves in a Sanaá supermarket with a sign informing customers that Danish products had been withdrawn. Also included were crossed-out thumbnail images of three of the Danish cartoons.

On 11 February 2006, former chief editor Mohammed Al-Asadi was arrested on charges of offending Islam. He was released on bail on 22 February. In a trial that began on 23 February, prosecution lawyers called for al-Asadi to be sentenced to death, for the paper to be closed and for all of its assets to be confiscated. Al-Asadi denied all charges and his defence team argued that the thumbnail images were accompanied by articles that condemned the cartoons and reported reactions from across the Islamic world. The prosecution claimed that the charges rested on the pictures alone, and that the accompanying articles should not be taken into account. After his release, Al-Asadi founded the "Yemen Mirror". [http://www.yemenmirror.com] Al-Asadi is now the chief editor of the "Yemen Today", a monthly magazine also published by Faris Sanabani.

Temporary suspension of license to publish

During the trial and for nearly six months afterward, the "Yemen Observer" had its license to publish suspended by Yemen's Ministry of Information, but its staff continued to produce material and publish it on the paper's website. The paper is now back in print and can be found on news stands in urban areas across Yemen.

External links

* [http://www.yobserver.com/ "Yemen Observer" official website]
* [http://www.yemen-today.com/ "Yemen Today" official website]
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/cartoonprotests/story/0,,1707551,00.html Call to reinstate papers closed in cartoon row] – by Brian Whitaker, Guardian Unlimited, 11 February 2006
* [http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=32254 Yemen Journalists Fight Cartoon Crackdown] – by Nabil Sultan, Inter Press Service, 22 February 2006
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4786322.stm Yemen editor 'faces death calls'] – a BBC News report, 8 March 2006
* [http://www.yobserver.com/news_9692.php Lawyers Demand Capital Penalty for Al-Asadi and Observer Close] – a "Yemen Observer" report, 8 March 2006