Media freedom: Call for global action
Join the global day of action for press freedoms, when rallies will be held around the world.
Three Al Jazeera English journalists have been imprisoned in Egypt since 29th December 2013.
They have suffered harsh conditions, solitary confinement, denied medical treatment and are now on trial for charges related to terrorism, along with six other foreign journalists being tried in absentia.
Peter Greste, Mohammed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, who were simply doing their jobs, are being tried in Cairo, charged with terrorism-related offences and “spreading false news“.
Another Al Jazeera Arabic reporter, Abdullah Al-Shami, has been in prison since August 14 and has been on hunger strike for more than 30 days.
And they are not the only press to be incarcerated by the Egyptian authorities.
Journalists are not terrorists. They risk their lives to shed light on abuse, suffering and injustice around the world. They are our eyes and ears, as well as our voices. An attack journalism is an attack on everyone who values the freedom to speak their minds and know the truth.
Please join the world’s press in a Global Day of Action on Thursday 27th February with peaceful demonstrations, silent protests and individual images that will send a message to Egypt and the world: if you silence the press, you silence us all.
The following is a list of demonstrations, open to both the public and the media, organised so far:
Tokyo, Japan – Solidarity stand outside the Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Yurakucho Denki North Building 20F Yurakucho 1-7-1, Chiyoda-ku,1GMT, 10am local time.
Ramallah, Palestine – Solidarity stand at the Manara Roundabout, 9 GMT, 11am local time.
Gaza, Palestine – Solidarity stand Outside the Al Jazeera bureau, Burj al-Jalaa (al-Jalaa Tower), 9GMT, 12pm local time.
Istanbul, Turkey – Solidarity stand outside Outside the Egyptian consulate, 9GMT, 11am local time.
Khartoum, Republic of Sudan – Solidarity stand outside the Al Jazeera Bureau, Al Baladiya Street, Building: Institute of Arab Development and Agricultural Investment, 9GMT, 12pm local time.
Jerusalem – Solidarity stand at Zeitoun Hill, 10GMT, 12pm local time
Amman, Jordan – Solidarity stand outside the Al Jazeera bureau, Jabal Amman, 2nd Roundabout, 10GMT, 12pm local time.
Ankara, Turkey – Solidarity stand with our journalists outside the Al Jazeera bureau, Karom Shopping Center, Çankaya 11GMT, 1pm local time.
Beirut, Lebanon – Solidarity stand at Martyrs’ Square, 11GMT, 1pm local time
Berlin, Germany – Brandenburg Gate, 11 GMT, 12pm local time.
London, UK – Trafalgar Square, 12 GMT, 12pm local time.
At the same time, silent protests are called for in newsrooms, offices, shops, commuters, tourists, pedestrians – everyone, everywhere. To show support, take a selfie with your mouth taped shut and share it via social media with the #FreeAJStaff tag.
Nouakchott, Mauritania – Solidarity stand outside Al Jazeera Bureau, Mamado Konatee Stree, City Center Tent, 12GMT, 12pm local time.
Tunis, Tunisia – Solidarity at Tunis Center for Press Freedom, 4 Rue de Mexique, 12GMT, 1pm local time
Toronto, Canada – Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square, 17GMT, 12pm local time.
Montreal, Canada: Egyptian Consulate in Montreal, 1000 de la Gauchetière O., Montréal, 17GMT, 12:00pm
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Journalists and the general public are encouraged to take a photo with a “Journalism is not a Crime” sign at “Posto 7” in Arpoador Beach 2030GMT, 5:30pm local time.
Also, a plane pulling a banner reading #FreeAJstaff will fly over over Rio de Janeiro’s famous beaches of Leblon, Ipanema, Copacabana 1730GMT – 2030GMT, 2:30pm – 5:30pm local time.
Washington, DC, US- Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave NW, 21GMT – 2230GMT, 4pm – 5:30pm local time.
Sydney NSW, Australia – Martin Place, 130GMT, 12:30pm local time.
San Francisco, US- Justin Herman Plaza, 4 Embarcadero Centre, 2GMT – 4GMT, 6pm – 8pm local time.