Most regular readers of this blog know my intense disdain for the Yemeni government for their refusal to cooperate with the United States in the capturing and prosecuting of the terrorists who plotted and bombed the USS Cole. Instead, they let these killers go free. For me, it's personal. Now there is something that needs your urgent attention related to Yemen and democracy.

Cotillion sister, Jane Novak of Armies of Liberation, has informed me that there is a journalist in Yemen who could be sentenced to death in two weeks and he needs our help. Jane writes:

While the USS Cole bombers are all free in Yemen, my friend the Yemeni journalist Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani will be sentenced May 21 in a bogus trial and likely will get the death penalty or a long prison term. He is charged with insulting the president and demoralizing the military with an article about the Sa’ada war. He is an internationally renowned journalist and one of Yemen’s most prominent and outspoken democracy advocates.

This is the guy I made the online petition for in March 2005 and the bloggers all helped and he got amnesty. Since then he and I have become good friends. He loves democracy as much as I do. And he’s paid the price for it. Since he was released in 2005, Al-Khaiwani has been beaten, kidnapped, censored and imprisoned. His paper was cloned, his website blocked and his children threatened.

The Yemeni government releases terrorists but threatens death to a journalist. Unbelievable!

You may have noticed the photo of Al-Khaiwani on the left side of this site. I placed that there to put the face with the name in this story and to stress the urgency to support this man. So how can you help? There is a new petition online to help Al-Khaiwani. I am urging each of you take just a moment of your time to go sign the petition. It is an open letter urging the government officials of Yemen to free Al-Khaiwani and to protect freedom of expression for journalists. You can click on the link on the left side of my blog too. I've already signed.

There is another way you can help - get the word out. Tell your friends and write a post on your own blog. Share the message with everyone and urge them to take the time to sign the letter. This man's life could be saved with your efforts! Let me know if you sign the petition or blog about it so Nicki can keep up with all the links. Thank you!