21 September 2004

Alert

RSF renews call for release of two journalists and their guide following announcement of upcoming "trial"


Incident details

Georges Malbrunot, Christian Chesnot, Mohammed al-Joundi

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(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has reiterated its call for the release of two French journalists and their Syrian guide as they complete a month in captivity. The organisation said it is "extremely concerned" about a 16 September 2004 statement posted on the Islamic Army of Iraq's website saying the journalists are to be "tried."

"Georges Malbrunot, Christian Chesnot and Mohammed al-Joundi have been held for one month and every day that passes makes the wait more unbearable for their families and all those supporting them," the organisation said.

"We renew our solemn appeal for the unconditional release of our three colleagues and we urge everyone to stay mobilised," RSF said. The organisation stressed that, "the only mistake made by Malbrunot and Chesnot was to have tried to do their job courageously and freely by going to gather information in the field."

The Islamic Army statement said that the group's "court" would meet in the coming days "and issue its verdict." It also said there would be "no more contacts or mediators." The French authorities have not said whether they think the recent statement or any of the earlier ones posted on the site are authentic.

"If this message and the one attacking France as an 'enemy of Islam' turn out to be authentic, then we should expect the situation to deteriorate," RSF said.

RSF continues to keep a vigil outside Paris City Hall, where gigantic photos of the three hostages are displayed. People can sign petitions for their release and leave messages of support at the site of the vigil, or by going to RSF's website: http://www.rsf.org.

Malbrunot, 41, who was working as a special correspondent for "Le Figaro", "Ouest-France" and RTL, and Chesnot, 38, a freelancer with RFI and Radio-France, were kidnapped on 20 August along with al-Joundi, 49, as they were driving to the embattled city of Najaf in southern Iraq.

The Islamic Army of Iraq, which has claimed responsibility for the three men's abduction, has used the possibility of their release for political blackmail.



Source:

Reporters Without Borders
47, rue Vivienne
75002 Paris
France
rsf (@) rsf.org
Phone: +33 1 44 83 84 84
Fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51
 

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More on this case

Life sentence for militants who held two French journalists hostage in 2004 23 September 2010 French journalists Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot released 22 December 2004 New concerns for fate of French journalists after kidnapped interpreter found 16 November 2004 Journalists' kidnappers issue new deadline 31 August 2004 RSF appeals to religious leaders to help save kidnapped French journalists; urges Arab media to publicise Muslim opposition to kidnapping 30 August 2004 IFJ condemns Italian journalist's assassination 27 August 2004 Islamic group claims responsibility for journalist's abduction, demands withdrawal of Italian troops 24 August 2004 Journalist released, another three missing, interpreter killed 23 August 2004

Iraq

Journalist protection law falls short, should be repealed, says CPJ 25 January 2012 Journalist illegally detained, while another is attacked 23 January 2012 News media torched, journalists attacked and arrested in outbreak of violence 5 December 2011 New wave of abuses and intimidation against the media 31 October 2011 Series of new attacks and acts of intimidation against journalists 21 October 2011 See all alerts: Iraq


 
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