SANA’A, June 3 - A verdict condemning the Yemeni journalist Majed Karoot has aroused broad criticism from media outlets in Yemen.

The verdict is the first of its kind. It ordered Karoot's  imprisonment for a comment posted on his Facebook page.
Karoot said that the Communication Corporation manager in Al-Baida governorate, Mohammed Al-Karfoshi, and his deputy, Kamal Al-Najar, filed a complaint against him because he criticized them on his Faceboook  page last year.

The Yemeni Journalists' Syndicate (YJS) deemed the judgment reprehensible because it ordered a sentence of one year in prison, in addition to a fine estimated at YR 200,000 (approximately $ 1,000).

In a statement last Wednesday, the syndicate pointed out that it is investigating the legal grounds of the verdict, which was issued based on a lawsuit presented by the Communication Corporation in Al-Baida.

The syndicate is concerned about the issuing of a prison sentence on the basis of Karoot's public criticisms of an official. It feels the prosecution's case is totally unwarranted.

The syndicate added, "The verdict is a threat to freedom of the press and freedom of expression. Journalists no longer trust the judiciary system."