Houthi Forces Shut Down 'Sama Ibb' Radio Station in Ibb Governorate

Militia forces in Ibb Governorate have ordered the closure of the local radio station 'Sama Ibb' mere weeks after its launch, marking a new escalation in the crackdown on media outlets within their controlled territories.

Local media sources reported that the decision to shut down the station was sudden and issued directly by the Houthi-appointed supervisor for the governorate, without any official explanation or legal justification. The broadcast was halted, and the station's premises were sealed.

Journalists associated with the project indicated that 'Sama Ibb' had begun offering diverse local radio content in a short period before its abrupt cessation. This action is viewed as the premature end of an emerging media initiative.

Khaled Al-Faqih, one of the individuals involved in establishing the radio station, stated that the closure came as a shock to its staff. He emphasized that it represented a promising endeavor to deliver professional content serving the local community in Ibb Governorate.

According to the same sources, the radio station faced undisclosed pressures and conditions from its inception, which media professionals describe as part of a growing policy to restrict private media operations in the governorate.

The closure of 'Sama Ibb' follows a pattern of previous actions targeting local media in Ibb Governorate over the past years, reflecting a clear decline in the space for independent journalistic work. No official statements have been released by the radio station's management or Houthi-affiliated authorities regarding the reasons for the closure or the future of the broadcasting institution.