Journalist released

Journalist Aref Mohsen al-Khewani was released on 3 December from the Sanaa central prison, apparently as result of appeals to the authorities by national and international organisations. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 11.26 - Journalist imprisoned for supposed "mental illness" Reporters Without Borders today expressed great concern at the reported imprisonment of Yemeni journalist Aref Mohsen al-Khewani on grounds of supposed "mental illness" and called on the government to immediately explain the situation and report on his state of health. The journalist, who is also in the army, was jailed in the Sanaa central prison in October and has not been charged or tried. Reporters Without Borders said that if he was mentally ill, as the authorities reportedly claim, then his human rights had been even more seriously violated and he should be freed at once. Al-Khewani, a non-commissioned officer, worked on the defence ministry weekly paper 26 September until he was dismissed in 1999. He then wrote for opposition papers. Pay owed to him by 26 September has been frozen, efforts to mediate by the Yemeni journalists' union have failed and his rights have been frequently violated, according to Yemeni sources.