Abuse of power & retaliationCourts & justice

CPJ and 34 groups say Aden security forces held journalist Naseh Shaker incommunicado for over a year; a court ordered his release in January 2026 but he was still held in February

Confidence: Confirmed · 2 sourcesAden · Oct 12, 2026

Subject of this story

Security Belt Forces (Al-Nasr Brigade), Southern Transitional Council

Also named

Oversight

Specialized Criminal Court (Aden)

Affected

Naseh Shaker, Freelance journalist, Yemen

Advocate

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

Marsadak

What happened

Freelance journalist Naseh Shaker was arrested in Aden on November 19, 2023 and held at the Al-Nasr Brigade prison, a Security Belt Forces facility affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council; his family learned where he was in February 2025 from a released detainee. CPJ and 34 partner organizations said in December 2025 that the charges against him (spreading false news, inciting against public order, and supporting the Houthis) are 'entirely inconsistent with his professional record.' On January 20, 2026 the Specialized Criminal Court in Aden issued a final ruling ordering his release, which the prosecution did not appeal; in a February 5, 2026 statement CPJ and Marsadak said security authorities and Bir Ahmed prison had not carried it out. We found no report of his release since.

Sources (2)

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)Naseh Shaker was arrested on November 19, 2023 and held at the Al-Nasr Brigade's prison, a Security Belt Forces facility in Aden; his family only learned of his whereabouts in February 2025, after over a year of enforced disappearance. He is being tried by the Specialized Criminal Appeals Prosecution on charges CPJ and 34 partner organizations called 'entirely inconsistent with his professional record.'

Marsadak / CPJSpecialized Criminal Court in Aden issued a final and enforceable ruling ordering his release; authorities had not carried it out.

Response

Security Belt Forces (Al-Nasr Brigade), Southern Transitional Council

No response by publication

Contacted — no response by publication.

What happened next (0)

No outcome recorded yet.

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