US State Secretary John Kerry Calls For Immediate Release Of All Imprisoned Journalists

John Kerry, the U.S secretary of State, has called for immediate release of all journalists imprisoned in various countries. In a statement issued on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, observed on May 3, Kerry decried the rising assaults taking place on journalists in many places that include war zones of Syria to Paris, China and Russia.

Shadow of Charlie Hebdo

"We will continue to speak out when journalists are unfairly arrested and detained; we will raise these issues with foreign officials at every level; and we will continue to promote journalists’ physical and digital safety. Freedom of expression is one of our country’s core values and one which we will continue to defend both at home and overseas," Kerry reassured in a statement.

Referring to the attacks on the French newspaper Charlie Hebdo Kerry said, "This is a critically important time to acknowledge the contributions of journalists. From violent extremists and criminal gangs who abduct and kill reporters to authoritarian governments that persecute them, press freedom is under attack."

Free Press Campaign

Kerry also drew attention to the “Free the Press” campaign launched by the U.S in April that profiles journalists or media outlets that are censored, attacked, threatened, disappeared or otherwise oppressed because of their reporting. The campaign records sacrifices of individual journalists who are rotting in jails. There is a long list of imprisoned journalists. They include Gao Yu, a 71-year-old Chinese journalist, sentenced for allegedly leaking of state secrets to foreign media; Mazen Darwish, imprisoned in Syria for exposing the regime’s atrocities; Ta Phong Tan, of Vietnam for unmasking corruption; and Reeyot Alemu in Ethiopia for writing against her government.

Dangerous Period

Echoing the sentiments expressed by Kerry, the Committee to Protect Journalists noted that this is the most dangerous period for journalists in recent history. A study conducted by UNESCO also pointed out that one journalist is getting killed every week across the world. But Kerry’s eulogy of journalists and espousal of their cause also put some spotlight on the administration's own record in dealing with journalists.

Critics say that the experience meted out to New York Times reporter James Risen and state monitoring of the phone lines of the Associated Press and Fox News reporters are cases that go against the "professed spirit of freedom of expression.” In fact, many organisations and journalists prefer to call the Obama administration as hostile when it comes to dealing with the press.

(For feedback/comments, contact the writer at k.kumar@ibtimes.com.au)