27 March 2007

PALESTINE: WEB BANNER CAMPAIGN FOR MISSING REPORTER


Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) is calling all bloggers and Arabic-language news media to post banners on their websites calling for the release of a BBC journalist who went missing in Gaza more than two weeks ago.

BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston was seized by four armed men in a white Subaru as he was driving near his office on 12 March. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and RSF, no one has claimed responsibility and the motive for the kidnapping remains unknown.

Palestinian journalists have staged several protests calling for Johnston's immediate release, including a one-day strike in Gaza.

Johnston joined the BBC in 1991 and has been based in Gaza for the past three years. He was due to return to London at the end of the month.

Johnston was the 15th journalist abducted in Gaza since 2004, according to CPJ. CPJ research shows that all of the previously abducted journalists were released unharmed, but none of those responsible have been brought to justice. Past kidnappings appeared to be the work of private individuals or groups seeking to exploit foreign hostages for political purposes, to use them as bargaining chips to secure the release of jailed relatives or to win government jobs.

Visit these sites:
- The Arabic web banners in gif format are available on RSF: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=21361
- CPJ's statistical analysis of journalists abducted in Gaza: http://www.cpj.org/news/2007/mideast/israel12mar07na.html
- "BBC rallies for missing reporter": http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6494931.stm
(27 March 2007)



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INTERNATIONAL: FRONT LINE RELEASES DIGITAL SECURITY AND PRIVACY MANUAL 27 March 2007 INTERNATIONAL: PAKISTAN PRESS FOUNDATION GENDER IN JOURNALISM AWARDS 2007 27 March 2007 JORDAN: PRESS LAW AMENDED TO SCRAP CUSTODIAL SENTENCES 27 March 2007 NICARAGUA: PRESIDENT PROMISES TO ELIMINATE BARRIERS FOR COMMUNITY MEDIA 27 March 2007 POLAND: LAW WOULD BAN TALK OF HOMOSEXUALITY IN SCHOOLS 27 March 2007 AFGHANISTAN: LOCAL JOURNALIST/TRANSLATOR STILL IN CAPTIVITY 27 March 2007 EGYPT: CONTROVERSIAL REFORMS APPROVED AMIDST VIOLENCE 27 March 2007 IRAQ: TWO MORE JOURNALISTS KILLED ON ANNIVERSARY OF INVASION BRINGS DEATH TOLL CLOSER TO 200 27 March 2007 SOUTH AMERICA: VIOLENCE AGAINST JOURNALISTS THREATENS PRESS FREEDOM IN LATIN AMERICA 27 March 2007 INTERNATIONAL: IFEX WELCOMES NEW ONLINE EDITOR 28 March 2007

Palestine

Israel arrests head of Palestinian prison news channel 23 May 2012 Palestinian Authority blocks critical websites in West Bank 26 April 2012 Palestinian journalist sentenced to four months' imprisonment 20 April 2012 Detained journalist transferred to hospital 11 April 2012 Escalating assault on free expression 5 April 2012 See all alerts: Palestine


Middle East

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES / COMOROS: Stateless blogger facing deportation after being tricked by immigration authorities 25 May 2012 IRAN: Two Azerbaijani writers missing 23 May 2012 BAHRAIN: Authorities arrest critical journalist 22 May 2012 YEMEN: Journalists face ongoing threats, assaults 22 May 2012


 
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