Int'l press body calls on Houthis to release kidnapped journalist

BRUSSELS, July 6 (KUNA) -- The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Friday called on the Houthis to release Yemeni journalist Abdulsalam Al-Dais, who they kidnapped in Sanaa on Wednesday.
The reporter, who was working for the Yemeni News Agency (Saba) covering economic affairs, was kidnapped from his relatives' house in the Shamlan district northwest of Sanaa.
"The IFJ strongly condemns the kidnapping of journalist Al-Dais. This new kidnapping shows a clear pattern of using journalists as bargaining chips in the ongoing conflict," said Anthony Bellanger, IFJ General Secretary, in a statement.
"We deeply resent this, call for the journalists' immediate release and hold the Houthi group responsible for his safety", Bellanger added.
Since the civil war started in Yemen in 2014, journalists have faced death threats, kidnappings, beatings, tortures and various forms of abuse that have forced them to flee the country and move to safer areas, noted the statement. (end) nk.ma