(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an RSF press release: Reporters Without Borders asks religious authorities of the Muslim world to launch an appeal for the release of journalist Daniel Pearl Alarmed by the threat of execution hanging over American journalist Daniel Pearl, kidnapped in Pakistan on 23 January 2002, Reporters sans frontières (RSF – Reporters […]
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an RSF press release:
Reporters Without Borders asks religious authorities of the Muslim world to launch an appeal for the release of journalist Daniel Pearl
Alarmed by the threat of execution hanging over American journalist Daniel Pearl, kidnapped in Pakistan on 23 January 2002, Reporters sans frontières (RSF – Reporters Without Borders) is launching an appeal for the journalist’s release to five religious authorities of the Muslim world.
In a letter to King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful in Morocco, Sheikh Mohammed Sayed Tantawi, president of the University of El Azhar and former Grand Mufti of Egypt, Nizamuddin Shamzai, mufti of Karachi in Pakistan, Sheikh Mohammed ben Saleh el Othimin from the Majles kibar el Ulama of Saudi Arabia and Sheikh Qaradawi, Mufti of Qatar, Reporters Without Borders conveys its extreme concern about Daniel Pearl’s fate. “You are undoubtedly aware that the American journalist Daniel Pearl was kidnapped in Pakistan on Wednesday, 23 January 2002. The Pakistani government has diligently ordered an investigation to find him. But yesterday his kidnappers threatened to kill within 24 hours this journalist, suspected of being a Mossad agent, if their demands are not met. Among other things, they are calling for the release of the Taliban prisoners, suspected members of Al Quaeda, being held at the American military base at Guantanamo. Daniel Pearl is an experienced journalist, who has worked for the Wall Street Journal for twelve years, and is in no way a spy.”
“Aware of your faith in an Islam that respects human dignity, we would be very grateful if you could make a public statement to the kidnappers asking them to release Daniel Pearl,” Robert Ménard, RSF’s secretary general, added.
