Posted on 08/31/2004 5:32:09 PM PDT by blam
Hostage journalists shown on Arabic TV
By Colin Randall in Paris
(Filed: 31/08/2004)
Two French journalists being held captive in Iraq appeared last night in a video urging France to lift the ban on Muslim headscarves in schools as their kidnappers extended their deadline for a further 24 hours.
The video, broadcast on Arabic television station Al-Jazeera, showed the journalists speaking to the camera asking French people to hold protests and persuade the government to rescind the ban.
A previous 48-hour deadline expired last night.
The ultimatum issued by the so-called Islamic Army in Iraq passed without immediate news of the fate of Georges Malbrunot, 41, and Christian Chesnot, 37. They disappeared with their Syrian-born driver, Mohammed al-Joundi, after leaving Baghdad on Aug 20 for the Shia holy city of Najaf.
Mr Malbrunot's girlfriend appealed last night to the "strength that is special to the Muslim religion" to save the men.
Speaking as hundreds of people gathered for a vigil outside the town hall at Montaiguet-en-Forez, the home in central France of Mr Malbrunot's family, Sylvie Cherpin praised political and religious leaders who have buried differences to plead for the journalists' release.
Among the other demonstrations staged as the deadline approached, politicians and fellow-journalists joined about 1,000 people at the Trocadero in central Paris.
A government spokesman made clear that the new law - which also applies to "conspicuous" symbols of other religions - would take effect on Thursday.
it will be interesting to see if the French surrender(again), and change their "head scarf" law.
We ought to have an internet pool on how long till France surrenders.
Did they make 'em wear scarves?
I bet they don't and the terrorists will eventually will release the hostages.
It would be foolish for the French to back down to these terrorists - no matter, how harrowing on the families of the hostages.
Prayers for the poor men involved.
The Prime Minister of the Philippines withdrew their troops and bowed to the terrorists.
Bowing to the ultimatums of terrorists should NEVER be an option. Never.
They may never stop taking hostages, but the futility of doing it (particularly when it turns those sympathetic to their cause off) would be magnified if their demands are ignored.
So, here we have French journalists in Iraq, we can presume, to reinforce the idea that America is evil. And the Muslims respond by threatening to kill them. A sure sign of de-evolution.
When does this latest deadline end?
Here is the latest.
Secret talks to free French journalists
By Colin Randall in Paris
The Telegraph (UK)
(Filed: 01/09/2004)
France intensified diplomatic efforts yesterday to save the lives of two journalists seized by kidnappers in Iraq, but reacted with extreme caution to a report that they were on the point of being freed.
Hopes for the release of Georges Malbrunot, 41, and Christian Chesnot, 37, rose as the deadline set by the Islamic Army in Iraq and extended by 24 hours, neared expiry last night. However, Iraq's leading organisation of Sunni Muslims confessed to fears that the men would be executed.
The report that the journalists would be freed "imminently" was broadcast by the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya satellite channel. The League for the Defence of Iraqi People's Rights previously claimed to have received an assurance that the men would be spared because of France's "honourable" anti-war position.
The kidnappers have demanded the withdrawal of a ban on Muslim girls wearing headscarves at school, due to take effect with tomorrow's end of the summer holidays.
President Jacques Chirac's government is adamant that there can be no question of withdrawing the law, but extraordinary diplomatic activity, some of it acknowledged by France to be taking place "in secret", has followed confirmation that the men are hostages.
Well, it won't be a secret if the ban gets lifted! If the ban stays then the terrorists lose.
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