Covering Yemen Imperils Journalists
Benjamin Wiacek offers a first-hand account for Al-Monitor about trying to report on the protests at the US embassy in Yemen, detailing how he was assaulted by security forces as his wife and another colleague looked on. He writes that what happened to him is unfortunately a regular occurrence for many Yemeni journalists.
I was home when I heard what sounded like gunshots; in a couple of minutes I got the first news about the US Embassy in Yemen, saying some people were storming the building. I got my video camera equipment ready and took a taxi to the embassy with two female colleagues, one who happens to be my wife.
We were close to the embassy when we began seeing the black smoke coming from the area and some people running in the street. Two minutes after we got out of the car and began walking, a tear gas canister flew our way. I began filming as the air filled with tear gas and we could hear gunshots being fired. Suddenly, canisters landed next to us, hurting our eyes and throats and we ran into a small shop to take shelter. At that point, I saw one protester take the canister and throw it back at security.
A few minutes later, as things seemed quieter I went back outside, leaving the other two behind, and started to film again. I saw the Central Security Forces at the end of the street shooting tear gas again, sometimes at close range on people a few meters away from them. I was filming the whole scene when officers started to run in the street toward me.
I immediately ran back to the shop to seek shelter, but the door was locked. In the few seconds it took my companions to open it, security had caught me and started to push me violently. One of them pointed his gun in front of my face yelling something I cannot remember. I immediately showed them my press card, obtained by the Yemeni Ministry of Information, and screamed that I’m a journalist.
