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Meeting on 12 May 2007 in Istanbul, Turkey on the occasion of its 56th Annual General Assembly, the IPI Executive Board unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the kidnapping of journalists. The IPI views journalists as fundamental to the free flow of information and to the understanding of current affairs, and affirms that accurate and fair reporting by journalists is particularly important in societies confronted by conflict or other serious emergency. Kidnappings discourage journalists from reporting, and thus limit the public’s access to information. The result is often a vacuum where rumour and conjecture dominate - rather than accurate and fair news reporting. Such a vacuum advances the cause of no one. The IPI believes that the kidnapping of journalists does not help the kidnappers’ cause. The IPI condemns all those who kidnap journalists and calls on them to respect the media’s independence and to release their captives immediately. In particular, at this time, the IPI voices its grave concern for Alan Johnston, the BBC journalist kidnapped in Gaza on 12 March, and appeals for him to be released now - safe and unharmed. The IPI calls on the Palestinian Authority to work to that end. |