NNA - Families of the two Spanish journalists kidnapped in Syria since September 16, 2013, Javier Espinosa and Ricardo Garcia Vilanova, called for their safe and immediate release, in a press conference held on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at the Samir Kassir Foundation in Beirut, reported Skeyesmedia website.


Ghaith Abdel Ahad, journalist for British daily The Guardian and spokesperson for both families gave a statement explaining the circumstances of their kidnapping at a check-point in northern Syria.


"Please, honour the revolution they protected, and set them free," Espinosa?s wife, Monica Prieto, said in an appeal for his and Vilanova?s release.


Ayman Mhanna, SKeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom?s executive director spoke about the dramatic increase in the number of kidnapped journalists in Syria over the past year. "Espinosa and Vilanova embody the real meaning of journalism," he added. "It is our role as media and human rights organizations to put pressure on relevant authorities to ensure the safe return of all kidnapped journalists."


"During the last three months, we have tried to get in contact with the kidnappers but they have not issued any statement or allegation and have not asked for a ransom to this day. We have spoken to some witnesses who were in the same prison, and they testified that Ricardo and Javier are still alive and held in Raqqa but we don?t know where exactly," Abdel Ahad said, answering questions from the floor. "We can spend hours discussing this, but only the Syrians are able to make a difference. I really hope they are aware that a free press is essential to telling their story to the world. It?s not just about Javier and Ricardo, but about the dozens of abducted journalists and activists in Syria," he added.


"It?s a personal decision, the problem in Syria is not getting kidnapped; you can get kidnapped elsewhere, but the context, how and if you can get yourself out of it," Abdel Ahad said when asked about whether journalists should keep going to Syria.



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