10. Yemen
Between the non-discriminatory air strikes of Saudi Arabia and their allies and the Houthi rebels, journalism has become a highly risky profession in Yemen, the next one on the list of countries without freedom of speech or press. The capital Sanaa, under the control of former President Saleh and his Houthi allies, is a scene of constant threats and harassment of those few remaining independent journalists. Abductions of reporters are also a common occurrence, with some 15 journalists and media workers held in captivity by the Houthis. Those who venture close to the front lines risk getting killed by the Saudi air force, which has adopted the practice of shooting first and asking questions later, although some witnesses say that they have dispensed with the whole “asking question” part entirely.
