The TV network Al Jazeera called on people throughout the world today to join the Global Day of Action, which seeks the immediate release of four of its journalists who are in prisons in Egypt.
Today, people in more than 30 cities will express solidarity and support to the jailed Al Jazeera journalists, and will organize events in Sydney, Manila, Islamabad, Doha, Aman, Nairobi, Ankara, Berlin, London, Rome, Montreal, Washington and San Francisco.
‘’Al Jazeera hopes that such attraction of attention of world media and partners can exert pressure on the Egyptian government to expedite the release of Peter Grest, Mohammed Fahmy, Baher Mohamed and Abdullah Al Shamy, reminding them with a united voice that journalism is not a crime’’.
The award-winning journalist Peter Greste, bureau chief Mohamed Fahmy and Producer Baher Mohamed were jailed on 29 December. They were taken from their hotel and accused of spreading false news stories and that they belong to a ‘terrorist group’. Their first hearing was held on 21 February, where it was decided that the trial would continue on 5 March. Abdullah Al Shamy has been in prison for more than six months without any charges, and he has been on a hunger strike since 23 January, writes Al Jazeera.
The Committee for Protection of Journalists ranked Egypt as the third deadliest country for journalists in 2013.
Commenting on the day of global action, Mostefa Souag, the Acting Director of Al Jazeera Media Network said: ‘’we sincerely appreciate the solidarity of all people throughout the world. Pressure, support and calls to free our colleagues continue to keep this story in the news. The day of global action is about freedom of the press, on objective reporting and to ensure that journalists cannot be silenced’’.
‘’We call on all to contribute to the day of global action on Thursday, 27 February. Journalism is not a crime’’, he added.
Al Jazeera began an online campaign called #FreeAJstaff on 1 February, and on the day of action will use the platform Thunderclap so that they could announce the same message at the same time throughout the world to its users via twitter, Facebook or the blog service Tumblr, said in a statement.
Many institutions, including the White House, EU and UN called for the release of the Al Jazeera journalists.
(Source: klix.ba)
