“The Yemeni story in English is usually quoted by experts, travellers or visiting journalists”

How would you describe Khuyut to someone who doesn’t know it?

Lutf Al-Sarari, former Editor-in-chief at Khuyut:  Khuyut is a media platform that seeks to convey the story of Yemen from the margins and bring it to the forefront, in a way that people living in other countries can relate to.

Recently you launched an English website. What’s the reasoning behind this initiative?

Ryan Al Shibany, Co-Founderof Khuyut: The Yemeni story in English is usually quoted by experts, travellers or visiting journalists, who, of course, may not be able to fully convey it in all its dimensions. We want Khuyut’s English website to convey a story that demonstrates the lively Yemeni reality, where each journalistic piece can form part of the puzzle that we want to uncover to form an in-depth understanding of what is happening here and then develop comprehensive and lasting solutions.

What do you hope that the English website can help you achieve?

Lutf Al-Sarari, former Editor-in-chief at Khuyut: I want to tell the world the stories of people who are tired of the repetitive wars in their lives, generation after generation. Those who pay the price of the destructive conflict with their livelihoods, their stability and their rights to a decent life. They even lose their basic right to life.

Ryan Al Shibany, Co-Founder of Khuyut: By adding the English version, we aim to enhance transparency so that it becomes an impartial voice, and a real reference for all concerned and those who wish to find trustworthy information (of a social and economic nature), whether to study the Yemeni situation or to contribute to resolving its deep-rooted crisis. While we were creating this website, we considered that many of the actors in Yemeni affairs are not Arabic speakers, and their roles require them to be updated about the developments of events. We look forward to being a real destination for tangible information.

What is it like to work as independent journalists in Yemen?

Dawlah Al-Hasabani, Editorat Khuyut: Independent journalists are engaged in a frantic struggle in order to tell the truth, as they may be subjected to arrest, torture, prosecution, confiscation of equipment, closing or blocking of websites and press outlets that adopt a neutral stance away from the influence of the parties to the conflict. They also struggle to overcome the practical difficulties presented by the withholding of information that prevents them from covering events.

In your view, what is the most important role of journalists in Yemen?

Ahmed Al-Wali, Co-Founderat Khuyut: Shedding light on the human suffering without employing it in political conflicts. Additionally, maintaining impartiality and shining a light on the bitter human reality. Everyone should work together to shed light on what has been called the greatest humanitarian crisis in the world. Our collective pens can really make a difference.