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By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 19 September 2014:
Reporters Without Borders has demanded the immediate release of two Tunisian journalists who went missing near Ajdabiya earlier . . .[restrict]this month by a militia in the area.
Sofiene Chourabi, host and producer for the programme “Dossiyates” for Tunisia’s First TV, and Nadhir Ktari, a photographer, were first apprehended near Brega on 3 September and held for four days.
Some reports say that the first time the pair was detained, by a militia in eastern Libya, it was because they failed to produce the proper paperwork to show they had permission to be filming. According to a press release from Tunisia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry was able to work through diplomatic channels to secure their release.
They were released on 7 September only to go missing again near Ajdabiya the following day, apparently abducted by a different armed group. According to Tunisia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they are working once again to secure their release, and believe the pair is “doing well.”
According to the Reporters Without Borders statement, the two have not been heard from since going missing again.
“We call for the immediate and unconditional release of these two journalists,” said Olivia Gré, the head of the Reporters Without Borders bureau in Tunis. “The authorities and all those involved in the transitional process in Libya must do everything possible to ensure that they are able to return safely to Tunisia.”
Gré also said the Tunisian authorities had to to m0re to secure their release.
Head of Reporters Without Borders’ Libya office Barbara Neault said: “This is the latest in a grim series of acts of violence against media personnel. Many journalists have had to flee abroad because the threats to their safety are so great”. [/restrict]
