Protest calling for Alan Johnston's release
Photo: AP
Palestinian journalists strike over abducted reporter
Move aimed at pressing government to exert more efforts to release BBC reporter Alan Johnston, kidnapped in Gaza last month
Palestinian journalists began a three-day strike on Monday to press the government to exert more efforts to release a British journalist abducted in the Gaza Strip last month.
BBC correspondent Alan Johnston, seized on March 12 while driving his car, has been held captive longer than any other journalist in the coastal strip.
There has been no public word on his fate despite Palestinian government pledges to find him.
In Gaza, journalists planned to boycott Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh’s cabinet meeting and other events.
In the West Bank city of Ramallah, dozens of local and foreign journalists held posters of Johnston and banners that read: “Free Alan Johnston”.
“This is unacceptable for us... We will boycott coverage of (President Mahmoud) Abbas if Johnston is not released,” said Majed Said, a correspondent for the Abu Dhabi satellite news channel.
Johnston, who has been the BBC’s Gaza correspondent for three years, is believed to be the only Western journalist still based there full-time following a series of abductions of foreign journalists and aid workers in Gaza in the past year.
All have been released unharmed.
