Journalist and human rights activist Najib Al-Ghorbani.
Yemen
Yamanat
Mohammed Shamsan
He is one of the most prominent media and human rights executives in Ibb governorate. He has been a writer, journalist, human rights and civil society advocate, and advocate of human rights issues, freedom of opinion and expression and public rights and liberties for many years, especially since 1990 AD, after the achievement of unity and the launching of the democratic experiment on the national stage.
His relationship with journalism and writing began in the newspapers Al-Mustaqbal and Sawt Al-Ummal, where he began writing political articles. Then he grew with it by becoming a press correspondent for both newspapers, covering all events, activities and daily activities within the governorate. Thus, he began to grow in his journalistic work, expanding his activity within a year until he was able to be an accredited press correspondent for a number of media outlets, including: October 14, Sawt Al-Ummal, Al-Thawri, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Tagamo’, Al-Hamhuriya and other daily and weekly newspapers. Human rights issues and various societal issues had wide-ranging repercussions during the period 1990-1994 AD. After the invasion of the south in the summer war of 1994, our colleague Najib Al-Ghurbani ceased his activities and the security services of the province began to restrict and pursue him – and he was also subjected to numerous threats and acts of incitement. He was the subject of numerous accusations which led him to live in extremely dangerous security conditions during the years 1994-1995 AD. After the return of the Yemeni Socialist Party and the resumption of its political activity and the publication of the newspaper Al-Thawri, spokesperson for the party, colleague Al-Ghurbani returned to work as a correspondent for the newspaper “Al-Thawri”, then as a correspondent for the newspaper Al-Tajma’ published by the Yemeni Unionist Party, and he continued to exercise his journalistic activity for two years.
In mid-1997, fellow journalist Najeeb Al-Ghurbani decided to pursue his higher education. He went to Iraq to get a master’s degree. During his studies there, he was active in the “Yemen Students Union in Iraq” and worked alongside several of his colleagues to publish a monthly newspaper titled: Yemen, Where?? The newspaper was published in four issues and was shut down at the time at the request of the Yemeni government and embassy. But he did not give up and decided to continue practicing cultural and national awareness among union members by organizing numerous events and activities. In early 2001, Al-Ghurbani returned to Sana’a after completing a master’s degree in political science at the University of Baghdad – after discussing his scientific thesis titled (Foreign Policy of the Republic of Yemen – A Study of the Changes Influencing…1990 – 2000 AD).
After his return, journalist Najib Al-Ghorbani worked as a lecturer at several private universities between 2004 and 2010 AD. During these years, he returned to work in the field of journalism and media through analytical political writings and legal and cultural articles in newspapers (Al-Jumhuriya, Al-Thaqafariyya, Al-Thawri, Al-Shura, Al-Tagamo’, Akhbar Al-Youm and others).
During 2006, he signed a contract with the Al-Tagheer Net site to work as an editor and reporter, then as a correspondent for several partisan and independent newspapers. He also participated in the creation of the “Family Association for the Defense of Women and Children” in Ibb Governorate, which was a “civil organization” and a means of close communication between him and the various media (The Fourth Authority newspaper, Al-Thawri newspaper, Al-Wahda newspaper, Al-Share’a newspaper, Al-Awali newspaper, Al-Taghir Net newspaper, etc.).
His colleague Al-Ghorbani claims to have opened numerous press files that journalists in the governorate had never spoken about before, such as:
The Ibb land file – the file of child rape and underage marriages – the file of antiquities – the file of corruption and public funds, etc. It also monitored and documented most of the violations and abuses committed by the executive branch and its affiliated agencies against citizens.
Fellow journalist Najib Al-Ghorbani’s experience was not without arrests. He was arrested in 2006 due to the publication of a major corruption case involving influential figures and his criticism of the role of the Central Control and Accounting Organization, which led to his imprisonment. He was released after strong pressure, mediation and media campaigns that continued to support him throughout his detention. After his release, he was honored by receiving the “Journalistic Courage” shield. The leaders of the press and unions of the governorate,
This honor coincided with the launch of its new media outlet, the Al-Hayat Press newspaper website.
His journalist colleague Najib Al-Ghorbani has published two books:
The first is entitled “Yemen’s Foreign Policy” in 2002.
The second is entitled “Saudi intervention in Yemen” in 2004.
Al-Ghorbani continues his professional and cultural endeavors and goes through many upcoming stages, which he believes constitutes a moral responsibility and humanitarian message that he must convey until the last days of his life.
Yemen