The Secretary General of the Yemeni Journalists' Syndicate (YJS) and Assistant Secretary General of the Federation of Arab Journalists (FAJ), Mohammed Shubaita, was shot while travelling in a vehicle with relatives in the capital Sana’a . The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the YJS in condemning the heinous attack, wishing a speedy recovery to YJS’ Secretary General Shubaita and urges the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the crime.

An armed individual stopped the car where Shubaita, his cousin and another relative were travelling near the Ministry of Information in Sana’a. They opened fire towards the union leader, the YJS reported in a statement. The attack was followed by direct shooting on the vehicle, which tragically resulted in the death of Shubaita’s cousin, the injury of the Secretary General and another relative. 

According to the YJS, Shubaita received two gunshots in the leg and one in the abdomen. The union leader was subsequently transferred to the hospital, where he is being treated.

The YJS is closely following the developments and will provide more information when available. 

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “The authorities must immediately open an investigation to clarify the circumstances of the heinous attack against our colleague Mohammed Shubaita and his relatives. 

Our thoughts are with his family and friends in these difficult times, and we convey our best wishes for our colleague’s recovery. Yemen is a hostile country for journalists, where their safety is jeopardised, and the investigation must take into account Shubaita’s role as a journalist and union leader”.