Al Jazeera calls for immediate release of abducted crew in Yemen

Al Jazeera Media Network has called for the immediate release of the Al Jazeera Arabic news team who were believed to have been kidnapped in the city of Taiz, Yemen.

Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent, Hamdi Al-Bokari, and his crew Abdulaziz Al-Sabri and Moneer Al-Sabai were last seen on Monday night.

Commenting on the abduction of the Al Jazeera three, Dr Mostefa Souag, Acting Director General of Al Jazeera Media Network, says: “We call on the immediate release of our colleagues Hamdi Al-Bokari, Abdulaziz Al-Sabri and Moneer Al-Sabai.

They were covering events in the besieged city of Taiz, reporting on the human cost to the conflict. Our colleagues were simply doing their job of reporting the story and informing the world on what is taking place in Yemen. Al Jazeera holds their abductors responsible for their safety and security”.

Souag added: 'It is tragic to see that in times of conflict, news organisations continue to be targeted. Journalists should have the freedom to do their work without the fear of intimidation, abduction or unlawful arrest.'

Al Jazeera is in contact with related parties in Taiz to secure the release of Al-Bokari, Al-Sabri and Al-Sabai.