Fifty-two correspondents and editors from various international news organizations signed a joint letter on Monday calling for the release of the Al-Jazeera journalists detained in Egypt.
Employees from CNN, the Washington Post, ABC News, and the Huffington Post requested the freedom of three journalists— Peter Greste, Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and Baher Mohamed—who have been imprisoned in Egypt since December 29. Egypt's Interior Ministry said that the men were suspected of having ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.
"The arrest of these journalists has cast a cloud over press and media freedom in Egypt," the letter states. "We strongly believe that upholding the rights of journalists and permitting the free flow of information is vital to bringing about greater understanding and serves the best interests of all Egyptians and the world."
On Thursday, an Egyptian official said that the journalists would continue to be held for 15 more days. Earlier in December, several international news outlets signed another letter asking for the release of kidnapped journalists in Syria.
Read the full letter below:
STATEMENT FROM REPRESENTATIVES OF INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS ON THE DETENTION OF JOURNALISTS IN EGYPT
January 13, 2014
We, the undersigned correspondents and editors of international news organizations covering Egypt, hereby call for the immediate release of our colleagues Peter Greste, Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, who have been arbitrarily imprisoned since December 29. We are deeply concerned to learn that our colleagues, all three of whom are well respected journalists, may face charges that include belonging to a terrorist organization and spreading false news that could endanger national security.
We also call for the release of other journalists who have been detained in Egypt, some of whom have been arbitrarily imprisoned for over five months.
The arrest of these journalists has cast a cloud over press and media freedom in Egypt. We strongly believe that upholding the rights of journalists and permitting the free flow of information is vital to bringing about greater understanding and serves the best interests of all Egyptians and the world.
Signed,
Christiane Amanpour, Chief International Correspondent, CNN
Tomas Avenarius, Middle East Correspondent, Süddeutsche Zeitung
Alastair Beach, Correspondent, The Independent
Peter Beaumont, Foreign Affairs Editor, The Observer
Ian Black, Middle East Editor, The Guardian
Jeremy Bowen, Middle East Editor, BBC
Laura Cappon, Correspondent, Radio Popolare
Marwan Chahine, Correspondent, Libération
Edith Chapin, International Editor, NPR
Kristen Chick, Correspondent, Christian Science Monitor
Andy Clarke, London Bureau Chief, CBS News
Richard Colebourn, Middle East Bureau Chief, BBC
Frank Craig, Editor, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
John Daniszewski, Senior Managing Editor for International News, The Associated Press
Borzou Daragahi, Correspondent, The Financial Times
Vanessa Descouraux, Correspondent, Radio France
Lyse Doucet, Chief International Correspondent, BBC
Sonia Dridi, Correspondent, France 24
Ricard Gonzalez, Correspondent, El Pais
Marion Guénard, Correspondent, Le Monde
Douglas Jehl, Foreign Editor, The Washington Post
Sophia Jones, Correspondent, The Huffington Post
Joseph Kahn, International Editor, New York Times
Ashraf Khalil, Contributor, Time Magazine
Patrick Kingsley, Correspondent, The Guardian
Sharif Abdel Kouddous, Correspondent, Democracy Now!
Giovanna Loccatelli, Contributor, La Repubblica
Sarah Lynch, Correspondent, USA TODAY
Nevine Mabro, Head of Foreign News, Channel 4 News
Jonathan Miller, Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Channel 4 News
Delphine Minoui, Correspondent, Le Figaro
Ayman Mohyeldin, Foreign Correspondent, NBC News
David Munk, Foreign Editor, Daily Telegraph
Marina Petrillo, Editor-in-Chief, Radio Popolare
Max Rodenbeck, Middle East Bureau Chief, The Economist
Andrew Roy, World News Editor, BBC
Heba Saleh, Correspondent, The Financial Times
Raniah Salloum, Foreign Correspondent, Spiegel Online
Reza Sayah, Correspondent, CNN
Francesca Sibani, Middle East Editor, Internazionale
Sarah El Sirgany, Independent Journalist
Richard Spencer, Correspondent, Daily Telegraph
Bill Spindle, Middle East Bureau Chief, The Wall Street Journal
Kathryn Stapley, Correspondent, France 24
Sherine Tadros, Independent Journalist
Marion Toubol, Correspondent, Arte
Gert Van Langendonck, Correspondent, NRC Handelsblad
Roland Watson, Foreign Editor, The Times of London
Ben Wedeman, Senior International Correspondent, CNN
Jon Williams, International Editor, ABC News
Nancy Youssef, Middle East Bureau Chief, McClatchy Newspapers
Sonja Zekri, Middle East Correspondent, Süddeutsche Zeitung
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