Report Palestine properly, freed Gaza journalists say
-27/08/06
American journalist St
Report Palestine properly, freed Gaza journalists say
-27/08/06
American journalist Steve Centanni, who was freed today with his colleague, New Zealander Olaf Wiig, has called on Western reporters to continue covering Palestine and the difficult life-issues the Palestinian people face. He was backed by Mr Wiig.
The comments came in a press conference after the two men of were dropped off at a Gaza City beach-front hotel following nearly two weeks of hostage torment. They both do assignments for the Fox News organisation – which has been accused of a systematic pro-Israel bias.
Among the many who appealed for the release of the two kidnapped media workers was Harmeet Singh Sooden of Christian Peacemaker Teams – who himself recently experienced four months of harrowing captivity in Iraq, along with freed Briton Norman Kember, fellow Canadian Jim Loney and murdered American Tom Fox.
“I hope that this never scares a single journalist away from coming to Gaza to cover the story because the Palestinian people are very beautiful and kind-hearted,” Mr Centanni said today. “The world needs to know more about them. Don’t be discouraged.”
Mr Wiig, whose father is a pastor, also urged journalists not to be put off, saying that “would be a great tragedy for the people of Gaza”.
The captors of the two men tried to get them to convert forcibly and publicly to Islam – but other Plaestinian groups have condemned such tactics on both political and religious grounds, and are seeking to bring them to account.
[Also on Ekklesia: Christian Peacemaker calls for release of Gaza hostage 26/08/06; Harmeet Sooden returns quietly to New Zealand; Statement by released Christian peacemaker James Loney; Christians urge love of enemies in face of hostage crisis; Entombed Iraq captive Jim Loney talks of Easter Hope; Australian Muslim seeks freedom for Christian Peacemakers; Christian peacemaker Tom Fox killed in Iraq; Norman Kember urges the churches to embrace non-violence; Christian peacemakers shown alive in Iraq; Embattled Hezbollah backs Iraq ‘doves of peace’; Sooden family know nothing of Iraq negotiator abduction claim]
Report Palestine properly, freed Gaza journalists say
-27/08/06
American journalist Steve Centanni, who was freed today with his colleague, New Zealander Olaf Wiig, has called on Western reporters to continue covering Palestine and the difficult life-issues the Palestinian people face. He was backed by Mr Wiig.
The comments came in a press conference after the two men of were dropped off at a Gaza City beach-front hotel following nearly two weeks of hostage torment. They both do assignments for the Fox News organisation – which has been accused of a systematic pro-Israel bias.
Among the many who appealed for the release of the two kidnapped media workers was Harmeet Singh Sooden of Christian Peacemaker Teams – who himself recently experienced four months of harrowing captivity in Iraq, along with freed Briton Norman Kember, fellow Canadian Jim Loney and murdered American Tom Fox.
“I hope that this never scares a single journalist away from coming to Gaza to cover the story because the Palestinian people are very beautiful and kind-hearted,” Mr Centanni said today. “The world needs to know more about them. Don’t be discouraged.”
Mr Wiig, whose father is a pastor, also urged journalists not to be put off, saying that “would be a great tragedy for the people of Gaza”.
The captors of the two men tried to get them to convert forcibly and publicly to Islam – but other Plaestinian groups have condemned such tactics on both political and religious grounds, and are seeking to bring them to account.
[Also on Ekklesia: Christian Peacemaker calls for release of Gaza hostage 26/08/06; Harmeet Sooden returns quietly to New Zealand; Statement by released Christian peacemaker James Loney; Christians urge love of enemies in face of hostage crisis; Entombed Iraq captive Jim Loney talks of Easter Hope; Australian Muslim seeks freedom for Christian Peacemakers; Christian peacemaker Tom Fox killed in Iraq; Norman Kember urges the churches to embrace non-violence; Christian peacemakers shown alive in Iraq; Embattled Hezbollah backs Iraq ‘doves of peace’; Sooden family know nothing of Iraq negotiator abduction claim]