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A Life Cut Short

On a somber morning in Dar Saad, north of Aden, gunshots echoed, marking the end of a brave photographer’s life. A man who had long roamed battlefields with his camera, documenting events with his lens, was silenced by assassination.

It was June 2, 2020, when unknown gunmen stepped out of their vehicle and opened fire on Nabil Hassan Omar Saleh Al-Qaety, before fleeing the scene, leaving behind the lifeless body of a journalist whose heart never knew fear.

The Photographer Who Defied Bullets

Nabil Al-Qaety was not just a photojournalist; he was an eyewitness to Yemen’s modern history. His journey with photography began during the Southern Movement protests in 2007, where he captured street demonstrations with his camera, despite not being affiliated with any media institution or holding a university degree. His talent and determination were enough to establish his name as an independent photographer, narrating events with impartiality.

In 2015, as Aden was under Houthi occupation, Nabil carried his camera—not a weapon—and documented the battles to liberate Aden for Sky News and Al-Hadath channels. His photos captured the realities of war with the neutrality of a journalist and the courage of a fighter. In 2016, he was honored with the Rory Peck Award as the world’s best photojournalist, a testament to his talent that shone amidst suffering.

His Family and the Price of Bravery

Nabil was more than just a photographer; he was a father of four children, one of whom was born just days after his assassination, never seeing her father’s face. He was the sole breadwinner for his family after his father passed away, bearing responsibility for his mother and four siblings.

Throughout his life, he was generous and giving. In addition to his work as a journalist, Nabil was a humanitarian who helped those in need and launched community development projects to ease his people’s suffering.

The Missing Truth and Delayed Justice

Following his assassination, security authorities in Aden announced the arrest of several suspects. Yet, three years later, his family is still waiting for justice.

In a statement marking the third anniversary of his death on June 2, 2023, his family confirmed that no suspect had been brought to trial, despite repeated promises to hold the perpetrators accountable. The statement read: “It pains us that all leadership figures, regardless of their positions, have ignored this case.”

Silence from Authorities… The Echo of His Lens

Nabil’s lens was not silenced by bullets. His photos remain a testament to a turbulent period in Yemen’s history and to the courage of a man who faced death with his camera.

Nabil Al-Qaety was killed, but his images live on, telling his story and that of his country to the world.

To this day, the killers remain unknown, and justice remains elusive. Yet, Nabil’s memory endures—not only in the hearts of his loved ones but also in the minds of all who saw the world through his brave lens.

Unpublished Details About the Assassination of Photojournalist Nabil Al-Qaety

For more details about the assassination of Nabil Al-Qaety, read our in-depth report here

Note

| This report is part of the “For the Truth” series, conducted by the Free Media Center for Investigative Journalism in partnership with the DT Institute.