AFGHANISTAN: Italian Muslims To Appeal On Arab TV For Journalist's Release
Paul | 27.10.2006 15:16 | Oxford
A photo journalist friend of mine has been kidnapped in Southern Afghanistan. I hope by keeping you informed of the story will give some insights into Afghanistan and the process when someone is kidnapped.
AFGHANISTAN: Italian Muslims To Appeal On Arab TV For Journalist's Release
AKI - adnkronosinternational (Italy)
Ancono, 26 Oct. (AKI)
Italy's largest Muslim group, the Union of Italian Islamic Communities (UCOII), is planning to appeal for the release of the Italian photojournalist Gabriele Torsello who was kidnapped in Afghanistan, on the Arabic language satellite television channels, Al Jazeera and the US government-funded Al Hurra. UCOII also expressed its solidariety with the family of Torsello, a Christian who converted to Islam.
Torsello was kidnapped between October 12 and 14 while he was travelling from Lashkar Gah, the capital of the volatile Helmand province to neighbouring Kandahar - the two parts of the country where fighting between insurgents and NATO forces is fiercest.
"UCOII would like to express its solidarity and closeness to the family members of the reporter Gabriele Torsello and to the entire country," the group said in a statement released on Thursday.
"Honest journalists and voluntary workers in high risk areas, people who put their lives in danger to do good, merit that we all stand up for them. We firmly call for the release of the reporter Gabriele Torsello, without any pre-conditions," said the statement.
UCOII also announced a series of initiatives to secure Torsello's release.
"We will announce our appeal to all Afghans for the liberation of the hostage through the satellite channel Al Hurra on Friday at 4.00 pm," said the Italian Muslim group. The group also announced that on Saturday, at a day-long event to mark the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in the Adriatic port city of Italy, Ancona, a section will be devoted to "the cause of brother Torsello". The event, organised by UCOII and Torsello's family, will involve them recording an appeal which will then be aired on the Al Jazeera TV channel.
UCOII also said that they plan to make a special plea for Torsello's release in all mosques in Italy during Friday prayers this week.
After initially offering to hand over Torsello in exchange for the return of a Christian convert, Abdul Rahman, who has been granted asylum in Italy, last week the captors - who claim to be Taliban militia but whose identity has not been determined - said if that were not agreed to they would insist on a complete pullout of Italy's 1,800 troops in Afghanistan.
The kidnappers had warned they would kill the journalist by Monday midnight if the Afghan Christian convert Abdul Rahman was not handed over to an Islamic court for trial and Italian soldiers left Afghanistan.
Italian charity in Afghanistan Emergency, which is involved in talks for Torsello's release, said they had spoken with the abductors on Monday and they had guaranteed the photojournalist was in good condition.
Italian mediators, who have reportedly contacted the abductors through Emergency, are allegedly ready to grant humanitarian aid in exchange for his release.
AKI - adnkronosinternational (Italy)
Ancono, 26 Oct. (AKI)
Italy's largest Muslim group, the Union of Italian Islamic Communities (UCOII), is planning to appeal for the release of the Italian photojournalist Gabriele Torsello who was kidnapped in Afghanistan, on the Arabic language satellite television channels, Al Jazeera and the US government-funded Al Hurra. UCOII also expressed its solidariety with the family of Torsello, a Christian who converted to Islam.
Torsello was kidnapped between October 12 and 14 while he was travelling from Lashkar Gah, the capital of the volatile Helmand province to neighbouring Kandahar - the two parts of the country where fighting between insurgents and NATO forces is fiercest.
"UCOII would like to express its solidarity and closeness to the family members of the reporter Gabriele Torsello and to the entire country," the group said in a statement released on Thursday.
"Honest journalists and voluntary workers in high risk areas, people who put their lives in danger to do good, merit that we all stand up for them. We firmly call for the release of the reporter Gabriele Torsello, without any pre-conditions," said the statement.
UCOII also announced a series of initiatives to secure Torsello's release.
"We will announce our appeal to all Afghans for the liberation of the hostage through the satellite channel Al Hurra on Friday at 4.00 pm," said the Italian Muslim group. The group also announced that on Saturday, at a day-long event to mark the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in the Adriatic port city of Italy, Ancona, a section will be devoted to "the cause of brother Torsello". The event, organised by UCOII and Torsello's family, will involve them recording an appeal which will then be aired on the Al Jazeera TV channel.
UCOII also said that they plan to make a special plea for Torsello's release in all mosques in Italy during Friday prayers this week.
After initially offering to hand over Torsello in exchange for the return of a Christian convert, Abdul Rahman, who has been granted asylum in Italy, last week the captors - who claim to be Taliban militia but whose identity has not been determined - said if that were not agreed to they would insist on a complete pullout of Italy's 1,800 troops in Afghanistan.
The kidnappers had warned they would kill the journalist by Monday midnight if the Afghan Christian convert Abdul Rahman was not handed over to an Islamic court for trial and Italian soldiers left Afghanistan.
Italian charity in Afghanistan Emergency, which is involved in talks for Torsello's release, said they had spoken with the abductors on Monday and they had guaranteed the photojournalist was in good condition.
Italian mediators, who have reportedly contacted the abductors through Emergency, are allegedly ready to grant humanitarian aid in exchange for his release.
Paul