Free Imprisoned Journalists: Foley, Gillis, Brabo, and Hammerl
Four journalists were taken prisoner by forces loyal to Qaddafi on April 5th, 2011: James Foley, 37, an American correspondent for GlobalPost; Clare Gillis, 34, an American freelance journalist working for The Atlantic and USA Today; Manu Brabo, 30, a Spanish photographer on assignment for the European Press Agency. Anton Hammerl, 41, an Austrian/South African photojournalist, also went missing the same day. The Libyan government has confirmed that it has all four journalists in custody, but has not yet provided a release date.
As freelance correspondents, Jim, Clare, Manu, and Anton do not have the benefit of a large and powerful news corporation to galvanize diplomatic pressure to secure their timely and safe release. Their work has provided us with fair and balanced news coverage worldwide, and has been featured in numerous prestigious international media outlets. They were doing their job to help inform others, and now deserve to return home to their families.
Please sign the petition appealing to the Libyan government to release Jim, Clare, Manu, and Anton; and showing the US State Department, and the foreign ministries of Spain, Austria, and South Africa that you support their diplomatic efforts.
We the undersigned support the efforts of the the US State Department, the foreign ministries of Spain, Austria, and South Africa to secure the timely and safe release of captured journalists James Foley (USA), Clare Gillis (USA), Manu Brabo (Spain) and Anton Hammerl (South Africa-Austria). We appeal to the Libyan government to release these individuals immediately.
My signature below asks you to do everything in your power to secure the release of journalists James Foley, Clare Gillis, Manu Brabo, and Anton Hammerl.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
