The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Tuesday condemned the arrest of Yemeni journalist Abduljabar Bajabeer after his July 28 arrest in the Hadramout governorate.

The CPJ called for Yemen’s Internationally Recognized Government (IRG) to release Bajabeer and cease intimidation against journalists. The CPJ’s chief programs officer, Carlos Martinez de la Serna, called the arrest “yet another example of the systematic campaign to silence journalists” in Hadramout and the other areas controlled by the IRG.

The National Organization of Yemeni Media Professionals also released a statement condemning the arrest. The statement emphasized that the government’s practices blatantly violate legally protected rights to freedom of expression and the rights of journalists. It called on Hadramout’s security and judicial authorities to ensure a safe working environment for journalists and asked press freedom groups to intervene, warning that the actions represent a “dangerous escalation” threatening Hadramout’s media environment.

Bajabeer, the general director of the TV3ad channel, was arrested in a string of arrests targeting journalists, including Sabri bin Mukhshen and Muhahim Bejaber. All three have criticized the local government in reporting and social media posts, and were reportedly arrested in response to their coverage. Bejaber had been detained for more than a month, although he was released on July 21. He spent 12 days in prison without being presented to a prosecutor, a violation of Article 76 of Yemen’s criminal procedure law.

Bajabeer was arrested after a warrant was issued by a specialized criminal court that had also targeted Mukhshen and Bejaber. He was detained on unspecified charges and transferred to a prison in the city of Al-Mukalla. CPJ says that the warrant violates Article 13 of Yemen’s Press and Publications Law, which protects journalists from prosecution for expressing their opinions.

The CPJ had previously demanded an end to the persecution of journalists in February, when Aziz Al-Ahmadi was sentenced to four months of imprisonment after criticizing the government on social media.

Yemen’s civil war began in 2014 when the Houthi group, supported by Iran, forced the IRG into exile. Today, the Southern Transitional Council, supported by the United Arab Emirates, controls much of the south, while the Houthis control swathes of Yemen’s north. This leaves the IRG in control of only a portion of the remainder of the country, including the remote Hadramout. Recently, UN experts urged the international community to act to avoid a wider conflict in Yemen. Journalists face threats in areas controlled by both groups, where violations are carried out in near-total impunity.