SANA'A, Yemen, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- A Yemeni journalist accused of writing articles to provide media support to al-Qaida is innocent, his attorney said.
Abdul Elah Haider Shaye'e was accused of planning sabotage and criminal acts threatening Yemen's security, the Dubai's Gulf News reported Monday.
"It seems the charges were based on the interviews made by Shaye'e with al-Qaida leaders," Abdul Rahman Barman, one of his attorneys said.
Yemeni intelligence officials arrested Shaye'e and two others on Aug. 16, and Barmen said neither he nor relatives of the men have been allowed to visit them.
Shaye'e ability to get interviews with key al-Qaida leaders may have targeted him for arrest, the report said.
Among those interviews was one in 2009 with Anwar al-Awlaki, the Yemeni-American cleric who is on the CIA's"'kill or capture list."
Marwan Dammaj, secretary-general of the Yemeni journalists syndicate, said he was allowed to attend an interrogation session where Shaye'e was present.
"Shaye'e lost one of his teeth, and he showed me bruises in his chest as a result of assaults when he was arrested," Marwan told a group of journalists meeting to show solidarity. Marwan said Shaye'e needs medical attention.
