The State Security Specialized Court refused on Sunday a request to release journalist Mohammad al-Maqaleh who is charged of mocking a judge during a colleague's trial, according to the NewsYemen website.
At hearing session, the court said al-Maqaleh was charged with committing criminal acts when he insulted judge in the court room on April 8 and ridiculed the court's procedures against journalist Abdul-Karim al-Khiwani who is in prison for allegedly writing articles against president Saleh and supporting rebels in north whom the authorities call "Second Sana'a Terror Cell".
The Prosecution said al-Maqaleh had labeled the trial as "silly" and the judge as "mad and cannot be a judge". Al-Maqaleh,45, has refuted charges against him and said "this is not true". His five lawyers asked the court for a copy of his file so they can respond to charges against their client.
