A/HRC/45/CRP.7 in Sana’a since 2015, which is covered in another section of this report.480 It also investigated specific cases that reinforced the “chilling effect” on activities the Group has previously reported.481 Journalists and human rights defenders in Yemen are being forced to take lifechanging decisions – in an already challenging conflict environment – such as fleeing Yemen, self-censoring or refraining from working in defence of the rights of certain groups or abandoning their jobs completely, all as a result of fearing for their and their families’ lives and security. Journalists 319. In addition to the detention and related violations detailed in section D above (see paras. 165 and ff), the Group documented cases in which the de facto authorities have committed further violations targeting journalists’ dissenting opinions and work, apparently in order to consolidate their authority in the territories under their control. For example, in February 2020, a 30-year-old female journalist was followed in the streets of Sana’a and verbally threatened by armed men in civilian clothing, who ordered her to stop writing against the Houthis and the Zainabiyat forces if she did not want to be detained.482 Since then, she has decided to stop any journalistic work, including on social media. “Most of the time, I wrote under a fake name as a security measure, so I could publish most of my work. I was expecting to be detained at any time.” Formerly detained male journalist483 320. Another journalist, also critical of the Houthis, was arbitrarily arrested on the streets of Sana’a in 2019 by a large group of armed men dressed in civilian clothing, and detained in the Security and Intelligence detention centre in Sana'a for almost a year without being informed of any charges against him. It was only after the Public Prosecutor intervened that family visits were allowed, some four months after the start of his detention. The Criminal Prosecution requested that he be released if no charges were being laid.484 He was eventually released due to the lack of evidence two months after the reported issuance of an order by the Prosecutor.485 321. The Group also received reports of attacks against journalists by the Government of Yemen, and by Al-Islah affiliated actors in the Ma’rib and Ta‘izz governorates. Journalists were targeted for publications critical of the government administration and acts of corruption, for denouncing human rights violations, and for their secular and atheist opinions. 322. The Group documented violations against a media campaigner, who has been active on social media, media channels, and online news websites in denouncing human rights violations, including corruption within the Yemeni Armed Forces military command in Ma’rib. From September 2018 to September 2019, he was arbitrarily arrested and detained in different detention facilities, including military facilities. Despite his civilian status, his case was sent to a military court as per the requests of the Military Prosecutor and the Head of the Military Judicial Department. He was charged with causing offence and insult against the Islamic religion on the ground of the opinions expressed in his writings. He was released in September 2019, and in order to avoid further persecution, he fled Yemen.486 323. The Group also documented the case of a group of male journalists who were arbitrarily detained by the Government of Yemen Political Security in Ta‘izz early this year due to their writings on politics. The journalists were released after legal representations to the public prosecutor citing the lack of legal grounds for the detention and as a result of considerable local public and media pressure put on the authorities. Those journalists report receiving threats after they have been released and the risks of being detained again. 480 Confidential source on file See, for instance, A/HRC/42/CRP.1 para. 288. 482 Confidential source on file. 483 Confidential source on file. 484 Confidential source on file. 485 Confidential sources on file. 486 Confidential sources in file. 481 81