This pregnant Yemeni journalist was on her way to hospital to give birth when a bomb strapped to the bottom of her car exploded, killing both her and her unborn child.
The UN has condemned the suspected terrorist attack that resulted in the death of Yemeni journalist Rasha al-Harazi in the southern Yemeni port city and temporary capital, Aden, on Tuesday, 9th November.
Al-Harazi, 27, was travelling to the hospital with her husband and fellow journalist Mahmoud al-Otmi when their car exploded.
Authorities believe that the explosion was caused by a bomb that had been strapped to the bottom of the car, according to the Middle East Monitor.
Al-Harazi was killed almost instantly, as was her unborn child, while her husband survived the explosion but was hospitalised with severe injuries.
The two were on their way to the maternity ward for al-Harazi to give birth when the fatal incident took place, according to numerous media outlets including Middle East Eye, which also reported that the couple has a two-year-old child.
The UNESCO Cluster Office for the Gulf States and Yemen tweeted: “We are saddened by the loss of our dear colleague and journalist Rasha al-Harazi in an attack that also seriously injured her husband, Mahmoud al-Otmi in #Aden. Rasha was a UNESCO trainee in 2019. UNESCO condemns this attack and calls to end impunity & support safety of journalists.”
No groups have taken responsibility for the attack, but al-Otmi believes Houthi forces were behind the murder of his wife, reported the Middle East Monitor.
Prime Minister of Yemen Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed has labelled the incident a “terrorist attack”, but did not openly speculate on who might be responsible.
However, Ibrahim Haidan, the Interior Minister, openly pinned the blame on Houthi rebels, reported Anadolu Agency yesterday, 11th November.
The World Press Freedom Index has ranked Yemen 169 out of 180 nations, making it one of the most dangerous and difficult places to be a journalist.
The country is currently facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world as a result of the civil war which started in 2014, when Houthi rebels took over a huge swathe of the nation.
A US-backed Saudi-led coalition became embroiled in the conflict in 2015 and has so far failed to crush the Houthi movement and rebuild the Yemeni government.
