22 December 2004

Alert

French journalists Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot released


Incident details

Christian Chesnot, Georges Malbrunot

journalist(s)

released

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(RSF/IFEX) - The release of French journalists Georges Malbrunot and Christian Chesnot, who have been held hostage in Iraq since 20 August 2004, is "the biggest Christmas present we could have hoped for," RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard said on 21 December.

"Yesterday we were still pessimistic as Georges and Christian began their fifth month in captivity. Today our colleagues are free, and tomorrow they are going to be reunited with their families for the festive season. It's fantastic," Ménard said.

"Their release is proof that we should always remain mobilised. Everyone's efforts have paid off. We thank French diplomats and the news media, who have remained mobilised for four months," he added.

The Qatar-based television news station Al-Jazeera broke the news that the Islamic Army in Iraq had released Malbrunot and Chesnot. French Foreign Ministry spokesman Hervé Ladsous later confirmed their release and said they would be back in France on 22 December.

Malbrunot, 41, is a freelance journalist who works for "Le Figaro", "Ouest-France" and RTL. Chesnot, 38, freelances for RFI and Radio France. On 11 November, their Syrian guide and interpreter, Mohammed Al-Joundi, was freed by American marines during fighting with Sunni militants in Fallujah.

RSF invited journalists to an event in the square facing Paris City Hall on 22 December, at 11:00 a.m. (local time), where the two large portraits of Malbrunot and Chesnot that have been displayed on the City Hall's facade since early September were to be removed.



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 New concerns for fate of French journalists after kidnapped interpreter found 16 November 2004 RSF renews call for release of two journalists and their guide following announcement of upcoming "trial" 21 September 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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