By: Priscila Néri, Posted: Sep 29 08

Regions: Yemen

Issues: Detention, Freedom of opinion & expression

Tags: Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani, committee to protect journalists, freedom of the press, sisters arabic forum for human rights, Yemen

Remember six-year-old Eba al-Khaiwani talking about the day her father - Yemeni journalist Abdel Karim al-Khaiwani - was taken from their home and detained by government forces?

This video - produced by the Sisters Arabic Forum for Human Rights after a WITNESS video advocacy training in Yemen - was part of broader campaign calling for the immediate release of al-Khaiwani. Eba's touching testimony helped renew interest in the case and also sparked a wave of local media coverage in Yemen. (Click here to watch Part 2)

An outspoken critic of the Yemeni government, al-Khaiwani had been arrested in June 2007 and sentenced to six years in prison after reporting on a conflict in northern Yemen (visit the International Freedom of Expression eXchange to read the full story).

Last week, the increased pressure from local and international organizations finally paid off - on Thursday al-Khaiwani received a presidential pardon and was released from the Sana'a prison. Click here to read his post on the Committee to Protect Journalists' blog.