The International Federation of
Journalists (IFJ), and its European group, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), have today appealed for the safe return of an Italian journalist missing
in Syria.
Domenico Quirico, 62, an experienced war
correspondent for Turin’s la Stampa newspaper, has not been heard from for 20
days. According to La Stampa’s editor-in-chief, Mario Calabresi, the reporter entered Syria from Lebanon on
April 6 to report on the country’s civil war and has not been in contact since
April 9.
“On the eve of World Press Freedom Day, we
appeal for the safe return of journalist Domenico Quirico and we stand in
solidarity with his family and colleagues,” said IFJ President Jim Boumelha.
“Mr Quirico is a journalist, free to
report on the the Syrian conflict without fear of intimidation or violence. He
cannot be harmed or treated as an enemy. If he has been stopped or held by any
armed group or faction we appeal for his immediate release.”
La Stampa said they decided to publicise Mr
Quirico's disappearance after a search for the correspondent failed to turn up
any leads. Mr Calabresi said the journalist, who has reported on conflicts in
Sudan, Uganda and Libya, would often disappear for a few days at a time, but
not for this long. The Italian foreign ministry has activated its crisis unit
to try to trace him.
The National
Federation of the Italian Press (FNSI) has called on whoever is holding Mr
Quirico to free him.
“Whoever has
prevented Domenico Quirico from communicating with his newspaper and his family
for the last 20 days should know that he has nothing to do with an enemy or
warring faction,” said Franco Siddi, Secretary-General of the NFIP.
“Whoever stopped
him in Syria, where he was doing his job as special envoy for his newspaper, La
Stampa, please listen to our appeal and give our colleague his freedom.
“He is an
experienced journalist, a true witness of the events of war such as the Arab
Spring, the ethnic conflicts in Africa and the Middle East issue, appreciated
and respected like few others. If any armed group or some faction suspiciously
stopped him, know that he cannot be a treated as a target.”
In Turin tomorrow, May 1, the regional association
of the FNSI, plans to carry out a demonstration on the streets where they will
wear a yellow strip on their arms to make people aware that Mr Quirico is
missing.
For more information, please contact IFJ on + 221 33 867 95 86/87
The IFJ represents more than 600.000 journalists in 134 countries