Almotamar.net - SANAA-A number of Yemeni journalists Sunday expressed their concern regarding a verdict to be issued against their colleague Mohammed al-Assadi, editor in chief of Yemen Observer similar to that issued against the editor in chief of Al-Rai Al A�am newspaper Kamal Al-Ulfi who was sentenced to one year imprisonment, prevention from writing for six months and closure of his newspaper.

Almotamar.net received a copy of a message the journalists sent to chairman of the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate (YJS) Nassr Taha Mustafa in which they mentioned that the issue of re-publishing the cartoons offending the Prophet Mohammed has taken an abnormal; course. They said the re-published cartoons the journalists published in their newspapers were in defence of the Prophet and in denunciation of what some Danish newspapers had published contrary to the charges filed against them.

Signatories of the message, who are members of the YJS�s general assembly, demanded the YJS council to declare next Tuesday an open day for solidarity with journalist al-Assadi and his newspaper and the rest of their colleagues. They asked for inviting lawyers and jurists, members of parliament and representatives of political parties and civil society organizations to attend the event.

They have also called for mobilization of journalists and media men for solidarity with editor al-Assadi on Wednesday at the premises of the court that is considering the case and for escalation and continuous pressure for final closure of files of those cases.

They affirmed t hat in case a judgment is issued against journalist al-Assadi or his newspaper they will maintain the open sit-in and stick to their right to reject any content of condemnation by peaceful means securing their right to the freedom of opinion and to explain it in a way offending the profession and Yemen too.

Journalist al-Assadi is to stand trial at court on Wednesday in the session scheduled to announce the verdict against him and his newspaper at the backdrop of re-publishing the cartoons offending the Prophet Mohammed.