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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Saeed Al-Batati in Al-Mukalla, Yemen

Truck drivers, doctors and bakers: ordinary Yemenis turn to veteran journalist when justice fails

A smiling middle-aged Arab man sits in a cafe drinking what looks like milk in a beer mug
Despite exposing corruption and confronting powerful figures in Yemen, Fatehi Bin Lazreq says he travels without bodyguards and chooses not to carry a weapon. Photograph: Saeed Al-Batati

When dozens of gas tankers near Yemen’s southern city of Aden were held up at a checkpoint by soldiers demanding heavy bribes, the frustrated drivers and traders turned to a man they trusted: Fatehi Bin Lazreq, a prominent Yemeni journalist.

Known for using his media outlets and social media platforms to demand accountability, Bin Lazreq posted about the drivers’ ordeal on Facebook. It quickly went viral, generating thousands of likes and comments. Within hours, the post prompted a phone call from the prime minister and another senior official, both pledging to resolve the issue. Soon, the tankers were able to move on.

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