The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the use of Yemeni journalists as bargaining chips in the conflict.

IFJ demanded the release of the abducted journalists by the Houthis in 2010 after the Yemeni Journalists Syndicated issued warnings that the journalists have been tortured.

In a press release, IFJ said that the Houthis  have repeatedly broken all international conventions and norms on the treatment of prisoners.

“The journalists - Abdulkhaleq Ahmad Omran, Akram Saleh Al-Walidi, Al-Hareth Saleh Hameed, Tawfeeq Mohammed Al-Mansouri, Hisham Ahmad Tartoum, Hisham Abdulamalek Al-Yousefi, Haitham Abdulrahman Raweh, Issam Ameen Balgheith, Hassam Abdullah Anab and Salah Mohammed Al-Qaidi - have been subjected to physical and psychological violence and were denied health care or family visits” It added.

“Journalists’ safety is a major concern in Yemen, where 36 media workers have been killed since 2011. Earlier this year the YJS denounced the arrest and torture of another journalist, Sabri Bin Mkhashen, at the hands of the security forces in Hadramout region which is under the control of the internationally recognized Yemeni government