SANA’A — On Friday, Sana'a security services launched a campaign to combat pornography channels in Sana’a hotels.

The campaign will continue until the end of Ramadan, according to Moaeen Al-Jawfi, an officer involved in the crackdown. Al-Jawfi said the campaign discovered more than 250 culpable hotels in the Al-Sabeen and Al-Asbahi areas and referred them to the Press and Publication Court.

A source from the judicial court who requested anonymity said the Press and Publication Court does not take action against hotels unless local residents complain specifically about the pornographic channels in the hotels. The General Prosecution to Sana’a security services gave orders after receiving several complaints.

“If a complaint against a hotel proves to be true, a case against the hotel is filed and all its electronic devices are taken before its closure,” the source said.

Most visitors to these hotels are young Yemenis. Dr. Salah Al-Deen Al-Jomaee, a consultant and an academic at Sana'a and Amran universities, said the pornographic websites and channels in hotels and internet cafes affect people religiously and morally.

Al-Jomaee said these channels aim to intellectually affect youth and to destroy them. He claimed such channels cause people to think sexually all the time and affects marital relations.

“People who watch these channels think that all girls are like the girls in porno movies,” he said. “Most viewers are teenagers and students. This negatively affects their studies. Instead of paying attention to their lessons, they resort to watching these channels."