Afghanistan: UN mission urges release of journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo and crew

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) today joined a growing chorus of official calls for the release of journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo and his Afghan colleagues.

A correspondent for the Italian daily “La Repubblica,” Mr. Mastrogiacomo was reportedly taken captive by the Taliban. In a statement on behalf of UNAMA, spokesman Adrian Edwards “calls upon those holding him to take this opportunity to show their humanity by immediately releasing him along with his detained Afghan colleagues.”

Mr. Edwards paid tribute to Mr. Mastrogiacomo as “a well-known journalist whose sympathies for the people of Afghanistan should be beyond doubt to anyone.”

The Italian writer “has displayed compassion for the poor and suffering, communicating their voices to the outside world,” the spokesman said.

“We know of no reason whatsoever for him to be under anyone’s suspicion.”

In Afghanistan, as elsewhere, journalists have a job to find and report on the truth. We ask that the rights of journalists to go about their work free from interference or harm be recognized and respected by all.”

On 12 March, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, Ambeyi Ligabo, also issued a call for the immediate release of Mr. Mastrogiacomo and his crew.