Information Ministry announced on Saturday canceling the license of the weekly Al-Wasat newspaper because the paper allegedly published reports and news stories that harm the national unity.

According to the ministry, this subjects the paper to questioning according to press and printings law numbered 25 and issued in 1990.

In its resolution numbered 21 and signed by Information Minister Hasan Al-Lawzi, the ministry listed other reasons for which it was prompted to cancel the paper's license as to damaging the intimate relations Yemen has with neighboring and brotherly countries together with fomenting sectarianism, and non-commitment to legal requirements.

Deputy Head of Yemeni Journalists Syndicate Sa'eed Thabet condemned the resolution and declared that the ministry has no right to do so, declaring the law does not grant it the right to withdraw or cancel the licenses only through judiciary.

Thabet went on to say that the cancellation resolution is dangerous and threatens press freedoms, and stressed that judiciary is the party that should correct the mistakes in case they exist.

Al-Wasat Chief Editor Jamal Amir told media that the resolution is politicized and revealed that Information Minister is incapable of canceling his paper’s license, adding what is built on something baseless is baseless.

Sources indicated that the syndicate along with other parties and organizations interested in press freedom will spare no efforts to prevent such illegal and unconstitutional interferences that restrict press freedoms.

In its Saturday’s release, YJS demanded Information Ministry to drop the cancellation resolution of Al-Wasat and considered the incident to be a dangerous precedence that challenges law and constitution.

It also called the ministry to stop taking single-party measures which go against law, and expressed their solidarity with Al-Wasat newspaper’s editorial staff against what it described as gross aggression on press freedom, especially when it comes under the specialization of judiciary.

In related news, Bila Koyood news service chairwoman Tawakul Karman received death threats this week by an anonymous caller, threatening her with death if she participates in rallies which will be held in the southern governorates later this month.

Karman commented to the Yemen Post saying that such actions will not stop her from continuing her efforts to work for the best of the country, even if it puts her life in danger. She called the government to take serious actions in ensuring that press freedoms are not threatened in the future.

Yemeni media, especially partisan and independent newspapers, have been subjected to a fierce official campaign led by information and telecommunications ministries over the last few months.

Several journalists have been arrested, beaten and harassed by security forces. Others face trails before specialized courts or press and printing prosecutions.