The West Capital Court presided by Judge Mohammed Al-Qadhi considered the canceling of Al-Wasat weekly newspaper illegal and invalid. The court stressed that Information Minister Hasan Al-Lawzi’s had no right to cancel the newspaper, and the evidence given by the ministry was not enough.

The judge ordered fining the Information Ministry YR 50,000 in fees for Amer’s lawyer. This comes after a series of sessions mounting to four where each party was allowed to present its documents and evidence.

In its resolution numbered 21 and signed by Information Minister Al-Lawzi, the ministry noted that the paper committed many violations for which it was prompted to cancel the paper’s license including damaging the intimate relations Yemen has with neighboring and brotherly countries together with fomenting sectarianism, and non-commitment to legal requirements.

To defend his case, and show his respect to press freedom, in a symposium themed ‘Press Freedom in Yemen between Responsibility and Commitment’, Minister of Information Hasan Al-Lawzi mentioned that his ministry licensed 30 newspapers in 2007 and that his actions of giving licenses to newspapers show his respect for the press.

Al-Lawzi also denied any shrinking margin for press freedom in the country, hinting those who speak of shrinking margin of freedom lie to themselves.

He added that the government is keen about having a complete set of legislations that help reinforce media and press freedom as a new committee has been recently formed to formulate the audio-visual law which comes in translation of President Saleh electoral platform.

Meanwhile, Al-Lawzi assured that they will work and commit themselves to the symposium outputs and recommendations. He called on participants to work jointly with noble goals.

For his part, head of People’s Will Organization considered the symposium to be the beginning for a constructive press and hinted that press is a means for enlightenment and raising society’s awareness.

The media and cultural Attaché at the Sana’a-based American Embassy Ryan Gliha pointed out that Yemeni press enjoys a wider margin than its peers in some Arab Peninsula countries, considering the existence of private, partisan and official media to be a source of pride for Yemenis.

However, Gliha noted that there were over 100 violations committed against journalists recorded over 2007 including threats, beating, detention, harassment, etc., maintaining this does not serve press and freedom of expression in Yemen.