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Gabriele Torsello Abducted! 12th October 2006 |
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Released after 22 Days on 3rd November. |
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Observer 13th Nov 1994 Kashmir Tears of a Land Click on pic for larger version
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Examples of Kash's work Click on pic for larger version |
Quran Click on pic for larger version
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Links to other sites with info about Kash |
Date:
Sat, 14 Oct 2006 18:14:56 +0100 Subject:
[nujphoto] Kash missing in Afghanistan To:
<nujphoto@nujphoto.co.uk> |
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Kash GT by Dan Sumption http://photography.sumption.org/ If you want a copy please don't just steal it please ask Dan first |
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| Editorial Photographers UK (EPUK) | |||
| BBC | |||
| Reuters | |||
| Dan Sumption's BLOG |
On September 8th 2006 Kash wrote: "I
will be traveling to Kabul,
Kandhahar and Helmand and hope I will be able to sell directly from
there (and get some assignments)
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An excellent biography of Kash |
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The Heart of Kashmir |
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Kash goes missing in AfghanistanGabrielle Torsello
a London based Italian National, and a freelance photographer member of
the National Union of Journalists was abducted whilst working in
Afghanistan. Kash as he is
better known, was taken with his Afghan interpreter on October 12th
whilst travelling between Lashkargh, the capital of Helmand Province and
Kandahar, reports say five men stopped the taxi and took the two away. The Taliban have
denied connection with the kidnapping. The NUJ campaign organised by his friends and fellow photographers, (in consultation with Kash’s family), for Kash's release has been to show that Kash, who has embraced Islam is a Photojournalist very sympathetic to the plight of the people he has worked with. We respectfully request that his kidnappers see that the man they are holding is not an enemy, but in fact a friend of the Afghan people and release him to carry on his
good work in
highlighting the plight of the Afghan people to the rest of the world.
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Please link to your site Kash goes missing in Afghanistan (copy and paste this link)
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Latest reports |
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04 Nov 2006 Everyone has been phoning today. The family are overjoyed and want to thank everyone for their support. Kash flew back to Italy at 9.30am this morning. Lord Ahmed also has been in touch with the family and myself, and also wishes to express his admiration for the support everyone has shown. Yvonne Ridley has also been in touch to voice her relief at Kash's liberation. As more info comes in it will be published here. Following is a round up of the days news... UK-India to curb terror Gulf Daily News - Manama,Bahrain ... ROME: Gabriele Torsello, an Italian photojournalist kidnapped in Afghanistan's lawless south, was released yesterday after more than three weeks in captivity ... Three
weeks after abduction, photographer released in Afghanistan
CPJ
Press Freedom Online - New York, NY, USA TORSELLO: BERLUSCONI TO POLLARI, ROLE OF SISMI DECISIVE Agenzia Giornalistica Italia - Italy 3 - Today former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi called General Niccolo' Pollari and congratulated him on the release of Gabriele Torsello in Afghanistan. ... Freed Italian photographer leaves Afghanistan Hindustan Times - India PTI. Italian photojournalist Gabriele Torsello flew out of Afghanistan early on Saturday, a day after being released from three weeks in captivity in which his ... world in brief For 2nd day, Iran test-fires new missiles to warn ... Indianapolis Star - United States... Kabul, Afghanistan -- Gabriele Torsello, an Italian photographer kidnapped in Afghanistan, was freed Friday in good health and said he was kept in chains ... Italian photographer freed in Afghanistan Turkish Daily News (subscription) - Ankara, Turkey Gabriele Torsello, an Italian photojournalist kidnapped in Afghanistan's lawless south, was released on Friday after more than three weeks in captivity ... There
is now an article on the BBC website: Photographer held captive in Afghanistan returns to Italy International Herald Tribune - France ... Relatives and officials including Defense Minister Arturo Parisi greeted Gabriele Torsello at Rome's Ciampino airport. Torsello, 36, was kidnapped Oct. ... TORSELLO: ON HIS WAY TO ITALY, DUE AT ROME CIAMPINO AT 11 AM Agenzia Giornalistica Italia - Italy (AGI) - Rome, Nov 4 - NATO attacks Taliban fighters near Kabul San Luis Obispo Tribune - San Luis Obispo, CA, USA ... Italy on Saturday. Relatives and officials greeted the photographer, Gabriele Torsello, at Rome's Ciampino airport. "I am well. ... TORSELLO: PARISI, THANKS TO ALL SISMI STAFF Agenzia Giornalistica Italia - Italy (AGI) - Rome, Nov 4 - "Overjoyed due to the return home of Gabriele Torsello, on a day which the Armed Forces called 'in defence of hope', Defence Minister ... NATO attacks Taliban fighters north of Kabul National Post - Canada ... side of a road. Relatives and officials greeted Gabriele Torsello at Rome's Ciampino airport. "I am well. Thank you, Italy," Torsello ... TORSELLI: BERTINOTTI IN CIAMPINO, 'I AM REALLY HAPPY' Agenzia Giornalistica Italia - Italy ... The president of Chamber will meet the photojournalist Gabriele Torsello, who is currently in the VIP hall of the airport. 'What will I tell him? ... Photographers site Editorial Photographers UK has a good comprehensive report... Dutch to press Pakistan to plug Afghan border Khaleej Times - Dubai,United Arab Emirates... ‘I am well. Thank you, Italy,’ 36-year-old Gabriele Torsello told reporters at Rome’s Ciampino airport. Five men seized Torsello on Oct. ... TORSELLO: "NOW I WANT TO HUG MY SON AGAIN" Agenzia Giornalistica Italia - Italy
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03 Nov 2006 UK-India to curb terror Gulf Daily News - Manama, Bahrain... ROME: Gabriele Torsello, an Italian photojournalist kidnapped in Afghanistan's lawless south, was released yesterday after more than three weeks in captivity ... TORSELLO: KASH'S FATHER SHOWS TEXT MESSAGES IN ALESSANO Agenzia Giornalistica Italia - Italy... his son's courage, also his daughter-in-law made an appearance, though too emotional to say more than "I'm very, very happy." Gabriele Torsello is reportedly ... Three weeks after abduction, photographer released in Afghanistan CPJ Press Freedom Online - New York, NY, USA. New York, November 3, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes today’s release of Italian freelance photographer Gabriele Torsello three weeks ... TORSELLO: BERLUSCONI TO POLLARI, ROLE OF SISMI DECISIVE Agenzia Giornalistica Italia - Italy 3 - Today former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi called General Niccolo' Pollari and congratulated him on the release of Gabriele Torsello in Afghanistan. ...
HE IS FREE! Still early reports, more as it comes in Reports say he was freed at 13.30 and left on the road to Kandahar!!!!!!! Excellent summary on Editorial Photographers UK Marcio Secchi who has been our hard working liaison with the family said a little while ago: "I have been talking to the family right now and obviously they are over the moon! Kash is now at the Italian Embassy in Kabul and will fly to Italy soon. They have asked me to thank all of you for what you have been doing in the last three weeks to help and secure Kash freedom, they really feel that without your help would have been impossible for them! The support and the feeling of what you were doing for Kash has been of BIG help to them and they will never forget! I would also personally thank Nazir (Lord Ahmed) and Yvonne (Ridley) for what they have done . Jazah Allah". Marco
TORSELLO:
PRODI, GREAT JOY. THANK FOREIGN AND DEFENCE MINISTRY FOLENA: TORSELLO'S RELEASE GOOD NEWS. NOW WE LEAVE AFGHANISTAN Agenzia
Giornalistica Italia - Italy
TORSELLO: MANTOVANO (AN), ESTEEM FOR SISMI Agenzia Giornalistica Italia - Italy (AGI) - Lecce, Nov 3 - "The contribution of Sismi (Italian secret services) to the release of Gabriele Torsello described as essential and decisive by the ... Gabriele Torsello, the italian reporter kidnapped in Afghanistan ... Visti da lontano - Italy ... in Italy (1.30 pm. in Afghanistan) a phone call at Emergency hospital in Lashkar-Gah said that Gabriele Torsello has been released on the road for Kandahar. ... TORSELLO:
MARINI, WONDERFUL NEWS, THANKS TO EVERYONE Italian
photographer freed in Afghanistan after three weeks 'in ... Italian
Photographer Kidnapped in Afghanistan Released Italian
photographer freed in Afghanistan
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| 2
Nov 2006
Whilst the day started off with a scare from the Italian newspapers who came out with a number of stories suggesting that Kash had been injured, and that there had been a gun fight of some sorts, we have now had some positive reports. (Translated from Italian - thank you Marco) "After
ten days of silence, on the evening of Thursday 02 at 19.30 Afghan never
been interrupted. Agenzia Giornalistica Italia - Italy TORSELLO: CONTACT WITH KIDNAPPERS CONTINUES More
news as it comes in...
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| 1
Nov 2006
America's National Press Photographers Association has an excellent round-up of the Kash situation today Gabrielle Torsello's Fate Unknown
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| 31
Oct 2006
Still quiet, and no contact with Kash. We can only hope that he is well. The reports that the Italian Foreign ministry are in contact with the kidnappers and that there is discussion of a 'Humanitarian Aid' package being negotiated, give us all some hope. AKI in Rome report AFGHANISTAN: ITALY FEARS FOR KIDNAPPED PHOTOJOURNALIST Rome, 31 Oct. (AKI) - The Italian media voiced concern on Tuesday for the fate of photojournalist Gabriele Torsello whose kidnappers in Afghanistan have ... Later today we had a further report from AGI. Stefio's father says, "trust the institutions to get him out." 5.00pm (UK time) Pajhwok Afghan News (Thanks Alistair) Elders demand release of kidnapped Italian journalistLASHKARGAH, Oct 31 (Pajhwok Afghan News): A number of tribal elders in the southern Helmand province have demanded safe release of the kidnapped Italian journalist. Photojournalist Gabriele Torsello was abducted by five unidentified armed men while travelling between Do Rahi area of Helmand and Mewand district of Kandahar province some three weeks back. Haji Shah Agha, an elder and a local trader, said every one should respect the freedom of journalists. He said Gabriele Torsello was a Muslim and he had come to Helmand because he believed that the people of this province greatly respect their guests. Haji Mohammad Younus, tribal elder from Nad Ali district, said journalists were coming here to inform the world about the agonies of Afghans. Haji Amir Khan, an influential form Grishk district, said the Italian journalist was innocent. He asked the kidnappers not to punish a man for the sin he had not committed. Meanwhile, father of the kidnapped photojournalist launched an appeal on Monday for his liberation on Italy's first Islamic radio 'Radiocom Islam'. Commenting on a rally Saturday promoted in the central Italian city of Ancona by the country's largest Muslim organisation, the Union of Islamic Communities in Italy (UCOII), Marcello Torsello said: "The message I'm trying to send out is that Gabriele is one of them, like the Afghan people, he is a Muslim, he loves this population, and is working so that the world will know how they are living and how much help they need." Gabriele Torsello, a Muslim convert, was kidnapped between October 12 and 14 while he was travelling from Lashkargah, capital of Helmand province to the neighbouring Kandahar. The kidnappers had warned they would kill him unless the Afghan Christian convert Abdul Rahman, who has been granted asylum in Italy, was not handed over to an Islamic court for trial and Italy's 1,800 troops left Afghanistan. Samad Rohani/Javid Hamim 20.30 pm News getting better. Negotiations properly underway according to AGI Online
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| 30
Oct 2006
Kash's father appeals to the kidnappers (AKI Italy)
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| 29
Oct 2006
AFGHANISTAN: ITALIAN MUSLIMS TO APPEAL ON ARAB TV FOR JOURNALIST'S RELEASE (ADNKronos International) Kash's partner Silvia appealed for his release, reported by the Gulf Times The
Pontiff launches appeal on behalf of kidnap victims, according
to the Khaleej Times - Dubai,United Arab
Emirates, but the pope failed to mention the high-profile case of
36-year-old kidnap victim Gabriele Torsello. |
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| 28
Oct 2006
The latest (as yet unsubstantiated)
reports we have are that Kash is alive and well and that there may well
have been a step forward in negotiations: "Italian charity in
Afghanistan Emergency, which is involved in negotiations for Torsello's
release, said they had spoken with the abductors on Monday and they had
guaranteed the photojournalist was in good condition. Very busy with reports of Kash today: There is a good report on Peace Reporter along with coverage of the London Press Conference. You do need to speak Italian though A Report on the BBC Urdu site
In Italy Football has taken note of Kash's plight starting with ADNKronos International This has even been noted in America as the international Herald Tribune's report of the AC Milan match (last paragraph notes) This was also reported by the British Sportinglife.com site FERRARI GETS ROMA ON THE MOVE. The
Union of Italian Islamic Communities and Organisations has
launched a new appeal to get Kash released according to Agenzia
Giornalistica Italia - Italy TORSELLO:
NEW APPEAL BY UCOII TO RELEASE REPORTER . This protest is well
organised and An interesting comment from Telos Press (New York, USA) regarding (in part at least) the Italian Government's attitude to Muslims and the 'Kash' situation. Prodi and the Veil
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| 27
Oct 2006
It has been a quiet day today. The only new report to come in is from Aljazeera. Plea to free Italian photographer Aljazeera.net - Qatar |
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| 26
Oct 2006.
At midday today (London time) the National Union of Journalists hosted a press conference where friends of Kash asked for his captors to release him unconditionally. Pete Jenkins, Vice Chair of the NUJ's Photogrpahers Sub Committee, representing the many photographers and friends of Kash introduced , Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham, the Muslim Labour peer and friend of Kash, Yvonne Ridley journalist and former Taliban captive and Kash's Cousin Donatella Torsello. The press conference was well attended, and interviews were given to Italian and overseas press, and to the BBC World Service (Pashtun). |
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Lord Ahmed of Rotherham said: “I have known
Gabrielle Torsello, known to his friends as ‘Kash’ for eight years He is an excellent
photographer who has worked in several war zones, and I have enormous
confidence, in his awareness of and his work in highlighting, human
rights issues. He has worked
extensively in Kashmir working and photographing the people there and I
was pleased to be involved with his Book the Heart of Kashmir, for which
I wrote the forward. I have
remained in touch with Kash regularly around his visits to Afghanistan,
and we meet at the Regents Park Mosque. I was horrified to
learn that he had been arrested by five bandits, who are holding him in
Afghanistan, and I call upon these people to release him immediately and
unconditionally. Kash is a wonderful
and loving man, and he deserves to be able to continue his work,
bringing the plight of the Afghan people to the notice of the rest of
the world, and also to be able to rejoin his friends and family in Italy
and Great Britain. I would like to thank
all those friends and photographers who have worked so hard supporting
the campaign for this release I will be happy to fly
to Pakistan to assist in securing his release if needed.”
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Yvonne Ridley also spoke: "It is now five years since I was arrested by the Taliban and held for 10 days in Afghanistan. Although my captors treated me with great respect and courtesy the experience was a frightening one for me and my family and work colleagues back home in the UK.
It is with great sadness that I hear of
the plight of Gabriele Torsello, known to his friends as Kash. Like
me, he went to Afghanistan as a professional media person, and like me
his intentions were purely for the good of the Afghan people, and in
the pursuit of haq or the truth.
I would say to those who are
holding Kash now, that in the interests of humanity and the long-term
goal of their cause, they should release Kash now as a gesture of
goodwill.
I was treated with great kindness
and I am sure, in the true spirit of Islam, Kash's well-being is
foremost in the minds of his captors. When I
was released I went on to study Islam and subsequently reverted to
this great faith. Who knows what untold good will come of kash's
release.
To his captors, I am sending this
message:
"I beg you, as your sister in Islam, please show the same mercy and kindess to Kash and his family as you showed to me and mine. Please release him.
He is after all, our brother in
Islam and I am sure, like me, he will not forget your act of humanity. I
was released on the authority of Mullah Omar on humanitarian grounds
... in my humble opinion, I believe those same grounds are applicable
to our brother Kash.
Indeed, I am more than willing to
come to Afghanistan and ask you in person for the release of Kash as a
show of respect and faith in your compassion and judgment."
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Kash's cousin Donatella made an impassioned plea "I, Donatella, am deeply concerned for the safety of my cousin Gabriele who is been like a brother to me since he moved to London 14 years ago. I
proudly watched him grow into a committed photojournalist and his photos
continue to touch the heart of many people. It
is obvious to anyone who knows him that integrity is so much part of his
essence. Gabriele
used that integrity and passion for photography to give a human face to
the suffering in war torn regions. During
his numerous travels, he looked beyond his duty to help the innocents.
His willingness to fund the operation of Shabana is just one example of
his deep humanity and generosity. People
have grown to recognise the global voice they gain through his
photographs. As a result he has always had safe passage in the most
troubled areas. People appreciate his open heart and mind. Like them I
hope his captors will recognise his important role in documenting
people's sufferings. I
ask his captors to keep him safe and to release him unharmed because he
is wonderful man and father.
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Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, Donatella Torsello and Yvonne Ridley with Dan Sumption's picture of the photographer 'Kash' Photograph by Andrew Wiard
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Kash's Photograph of Shabana and her mother after the operation |
Whilst campaigning
for Kash’s release I found out about something that Kash had done, of
which I believe none of my colleagues including myself had had any idea. During a previous visit to Kabul Kash had by chance come across a nine-month-old little girl being carried by her mother. The little girl had a huge tumour on her face, which thanks to Kash’s intervention was diagnosed as a neurofibromas and Kash paid for doctors to perform a four-hour operation at Kabul’s Maiwand hospital. This was over fourteen months ago, and Kash has been a regular visitor to the family during this time. This is the kind
of man Kash is. Someone who has embraced Islam as a result of his
work, and a photojournalist of the highest quality. He feels for
the people that he documents. I hope that the kidnappers can see
that the Afghan people would be better off with Kash fighting for their
cause with his camera, and I respectfully request that they release him
unharmed. Pete Jenkins
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| TORSELLO:
UCOII, APPEALS AND PRAYERS FOR HIS RELEASE Agenzia Giornalistica Italia - Italy 26 - The Union of Islamic Communities and Organizations in Italy (UCOII) is once again asking for the release of the reporter Gabriele Torsello without any ... More
time for kidnapped Italian Negotiations
continue for Italian hostage In addition to all these Pete Jenkins and Lard Ahmed were interviewed on the Islam Channel this morning to highlight the plight of Kash.
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| 25
Oct 2006
Agenzia Giornalistica Italia - Italy reports: TORSELLO: D'ALEMA, POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION ISLAMIC COMMUNITIES and later the same day TORSELLO: AT 15:00 HIS PHOTO ON PIAZZA DEL CAMPIDOGLIO Seems like Kash's portrait will be shown in Piazza Del Campidoglio until he is released. ANSA in Rome also gave an update today: with Italian Muslims urging Kash's captors to release him:Free Torsello, Italian Muslims say Tomorrow the National Union of Journalists is hosting a press conference to be attended by Donatella Torsello, Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham the Muslim peer , and personal friend of Kash, and Yvonne Ridley (journalist and former Taliban captive) . The press conference is specifically aimed at the Media organisations publishing in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and we will be showing some of Kash's work, and talking about some of the things he has done whilst he has been in the region.
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| 24 Oct 2006
IPS News (Italy) released this Pajhwok Afghan News sourced news piece about Kash today AFGHANISTAN: |
On Oct. 19, Pajhwok
spoke to Torsello in captivity on his cell phone. The journalist who
sounded very frightened, said he was under constant threat. He pleaded
for help from the media to arrange his release. ''The kidnappers tell me that I am a spy and that British troops bombed Musa Qala and Nawzad districts on intelligence I have provided,'' he said in a shaky voice. He said he was kept blindfolded and did not know his whereabouts. The London-based
journalist has been in and out of Afghanistan for the past couple of
years. Fourteen months ago he paid for the surgery of a baby girl who
was suffering from neurofibromas, a rare paediatric disease. The
nine-month-old infant had an ugly tumour on the eye that was operated on
in Maiwand hospital in Kabul.
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''Shabana cannot
speak, but she recognises Torsello's pictures, and loves him very
much,'' the grateful father said.
According to Gul,
Torsello ‘'offers prayers, keeps fasts and loves Afghans''. Today's
news saddened me. Now I cannot feel the joy of Eid-ul-Fitr,'' he said
sadly.
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23 Oct 2006 Marco Secchi, who has been in contact with the family throughout Kash's ordeal advises the following: "There has been a contact short time ago from the kidnappers to the Emergency Staff in Lashkar Gar. The kidnappers told Kash is in well conditions ...this gives hopes that they want to maintain contacts. The family meanwhile has issued a press release wishing Kash and the Muslim world a Happy Eid." Voice of America report Afghan Kidnappers Say Italian Hostage is Well Agenzia Giornalistica Italia - Italy online report TORSELLO: KIDNAPPERS CALL AFTER ULTIMATUM - "HE'S FINE" The Australian report: Negotiations continue for Italian hostage ANSA (ITaly) report: More time for kidnapped Italian Hazel points out that Kash has made Wikipedia: Gabriele Torsello The French site 'Reporters without Borders' have a petition to sign asking for Kash's release. Their report is here.
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| 22
Oct 2006
This report in the Pajhwok Afghan News tells us so much about our colleague Kash (Gabriele Torsello). The more I learn about Kash the humbler I feel. Pete Jenkins.
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| 21
Oct 2006
Yvonne Ridley (journalist and former Taliban captive) gave her support to Kash today, and Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham the Muslim Peer and personal friend of Kash, gave a moving account of Kash's plight on Radio Five Live at 20.20. http://news.bbc.co.uk/ . Lord Ahmed is in touch with senior Imams in the UK and Pakistan and is hopeful that contact can be made with this group, whoever they may be. Pete Jenkins
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| 20/10/06 AGI Online | |||
| 20
Oct 2006
From Scot McKiernan - Zuma "Basically I got a call Friday that he might be in trouble and then after a million calls found a Afghan journalist who lead me to the reporter who broke the story.I have been talking to this Afghan journalist and his friends who broke the story originally in Afghanistan. This is there most recent info from a few hours ago:" The Italian journalist, who was kidnapped in Afghanistan, Thursday appealed media and fellow-journalists to help him in his release from the clutches of abductors. Gabriele Torsello said
he was under constant threat and extreme pressure from his abductors.
His words were rightly supported by his shaky voice while talking. |
Christianity,
who was granted asylum by Italy and also withdrawal of Italian forces
from Afghanistan.
The abductors, contrary
to their previous remarks, distanced themselves from the Taliban and
said they were just Muslims fighting foreign occupation in this
war-battered country. Five unidentified gunmen
kidnapped Torsell from a bus when he was on his way from Lashkargah to
Kandahar on October 12. Torsello went from Lashkargah to Kabul on
September 19. Earlier, he told locals that he had photo agency and
website and wanted to visit some districts for taking snaps. He also
visited Musa Qala district of the southern Helmand province and took
several pictures. |
Ghulam Mohammad, a
passenger travelling with Torsello from Lashkargah to Kandahar , said
the photojournalist was abducted by unidentified armed men.
Defense Minister Arturo
Parisi Thursday said the troops would stay in Afghanistan despite
the new demand.
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19 Oct 2006 Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham's Interview with 'Peace Reporter'
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Thur
19 Oct (late)
There has been a new contact from KASH to the Emergency Hospital in Lashkarga. He spoke personally and said that he is in good condition, but to be really worried. about the deadline that has been confirmed for Sunday . |
In order to facilitate possible
negotiations the Italian Government has asked us not to publish any
further information about possible requests from the kidnappers.
The Italian Foreign Minister has asked the kidnappers to open a negotiation directly with them and not through Humanitarian Organisations to try to come to a positive solution. |
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Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham and Kash's book 'The Heart of Kashmir' |
Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham
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'The Heart of Kashmir' |
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Wed 18 October 2006 Today we have at last managed to make some progress. The Regents Park Mosque, in which Kash prayed on a regular basis has pledged their support to the photographer. In addition we have contacted Lord Nasir Ahmed of Rotherham the Muslim Labour Peer, and he has pledged his support to the campaign to get Kash released. More importantly he is going to Pakistan next week and has offered to talk to Kash's Taliban captors. More information when we can.. Pete Jenkins
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| Wed, 18 Oct 2006
AFGHANISTAN Call
for active campaign on behalf of kidnapped Italian photographer “A
journalist is not a bargaining chip” Reporters Without Borders and the UK-based
National Union of Journalists (NUJ) today appealed for an active
campaign, especially by Italian journalists, for the release of Italian
freelance photographer Gabriele Torsello, who could be killed by the people holding him
hostage in Afghanistan. |
authorities, and all those who might be able
to contact his abductors, to do everything possible to help bring about
his release. And we reject the kind of blackmail that endangers a
journalist whose sole aim was to cover what life is like for the Afghan
population.” A petition in French, English, Spanish, Italian, Farsi and Arabic can be downloaded from the Reporters Without Borders website. Reporters Without Borders has not forgotten the terrible execution-style murder of Italian freelance journalist Enzo Baldoni in Iraq in August 2004. There was no significant campaign for his release following his abduction. If there had been one, it might have saved his life. Torsello’s abductors yesterday said they would release him if an Afghan convert to Christianity who sought |
Torsello was kidnapped by five gunmen as he
was travelling by bus from Lashkar Gah to Kandahar in southern
Afghanistan on 12 October. Since then, he has been in telephone contact
several times with personnel at a hospital in Lashkar Gah run by the
Italian NGO Emergency. A freelance journalist who has visited many
parts of the world over the past ten years, Torsello had been travelling
within Afghanistan for several months wearing a black beard and Afghan
clothes. Married and the father of one child, he is a Muslim convert
whose home is now in London. |
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Tue, 17 Oct 2006 09:05:53 There
has been a new important contact from Kash to Emergency in Lashkargah,
he personally said to be in good conditions and that they moved to |
Tue,
17 Oct 2006 20:23:59 Not
very good news today, I am afraid. There has been a new contact just one hour or so ago to Emergency and the kidnappers have asked in exchange of freeing Kash the return to Afghanistan of Abdul Rahman the Afghan citizen converted to Christianity and that
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escaped to Italy after he was sentenced to death in March
this year. Kash spoke as well on the phone
and contrary to yesterday he said that he was "so and so and not
too well". The
deadline has been fixed for Sunday night, it is not negotiable and they
do not want any money or anything else |
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Reporters
Without Borders Press release 15
October 2006 AFGHANISTAN Italian
freelance photographer seized by armed men Reporters
Without Borders said today it was "very concerned" about the
kidnapping of an Italian photographer, Gabriele Torsello, in southern
Afghanistan and called for his immediate release. "He is not a spy or a bargaining chip, but a courageous journalist who has lived among the Afghan people for several months," the worldwide press freedom
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organisation said, calling on the authorities and the country's religious leaders to make every effort to obtain his release. Torsello,
a freelance, was seized by five armed men from a bus on his way from
Lashkar Gah to Kandahar on 12 October. The online news website Peace
Reporter, which disclosed the kidnapping, said he had managed the same
day to phone the head of security at a hospital in Lashkar Gah run by
the Italian NGO Emergency to ask him to assure the kidnappers of his
"good intentions" and that he had converted to Islam. The independent Afghan news agency Pajhwok quoted an Afghan journalist who had been travelling with him as saying he had called Torsello's mobile phone and that a man had answered and said "We are the Taliban and we have
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kidnapped the foreign spy." The Italian foreign ministry said today it was treating the incident as a kidnapping. Mullah
Dadullah, a Taliban military chieftain, threatened on 4 kill journalists
who published news put out by the NATO forces in Afghanistan. "We
have an Islamic right to kill such reporters," he said.
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Sat, 14 Oct 2006 19:21:10 "Apparently Gabriele phoned at 7pm
(6pm uk) to the director of the Hospital in Lashkargah
confirming he has been kidnapped and does not know where he is
kept. He has asked to the director to explain to the kidnappers that he
is a genuine photo reporter and not a spy. The phone call was later on
cut off. There are rumours of another phone call from one of KASH
mobiles to an Afghan Newspaper from supposed Taliban confirming he has
been kidnapped because he is a foreign spy. |
Sat, 14 Oct 2006 19:58:35 "Yes
is correct gabriele has an Italian passport and the Italian Ministero
degli Esteri.(Foreign Office) ......is
on the case !
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Mon, 16 Oct 2006 15:29:38 Just
to update Kash situation. The
NUJ is liaising with the IFJ and the FSNI (The Italian Journalist
union). The FSNI is in touch with the Italian government who are
beginning the difficult job of trying to make some contact with those
who kidnapped Kash.
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| Messages to Kash | |||
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Hi Kash,
I don't know whether you
will ever get this message, it has been sent some 36 hours (I think)
after you were reported missing.
Since then we believe that
you have been taken into 'custody' by members of the Taliban
in Afghanistan.
Your journalist
photographer colleagues have learned that National Union of Journalist
members have worked hard to find out and do what they can. Kevin
Cooper has spoken to numerous Human Rights Groups, and John Toner the
Freelance Organiser and Jeremy Dear the General Secretary of the Union
have contact the International Federation of Journalists as well as
the Italian Government.
We are all thinking of
you, and trust that whatever has happened to you will end shortly and
that we will soon see you back amongst us.
Kind regards
Pete Jenkins
Vice Chair, Photographers
Sub Committee, National Union of Journalists
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My thoughts are for Kash and his family, be positive, be strong. Regards, a fellow Photo Journalist. BRIAN HARRIS PHOTOGRAPHER
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"My
thoughts and best
wishes are with
my fellow press
photographer Kash Gabriele Torsello.
Your pictures have
helped to humanise
the people caught
up in the war
in Afghanistan. Such
work is not without
risk. I hope those
that hold you
find the courage
in their hearts to
give you back
to your family,
friends and fellow
photographers. Your
work is not yet
completed because the international
community need to
see more of
your photographic images
to help them
understand the consequences
of war.
We hope you
return soon in
good health. Our thoughts
are with you,
your family, friends
and the people
of Afghanistan. May peace
comes soon."
Kevin
Cooper a Northern Ireland Press photographer
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Dear Kash, Your love, care and concern for the people of the region is evident from the photographs on your website, which help to inform the world of the struggles in the daily lives of the people of Afghanistan, Kashmir and Nepal. I hope those holding you recognise your peaceful role in documenting these situations and will release you unharmed. My thoughts are with you and your family and all those affected by these conflicts. Simon Chapman Photographer |
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Hard to know what to write, but my
thoughts and best wishes are with Kash and his family and friends and
I am sure this goes for all other journalists and photographers in
Paris including the Paris NUJ branch.
david
mccairley
writer and photographer
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"Your commitment to our profession
of photography is shown in your images which tell us much about
those who live difficult and hard lives in parts of the world from
where voices are seldom heard.
As an act of faith your book The
Heart of Kashmir is an inspiration all of us.
You are in our hearts, Kash. May you
return to your family soon, and may peace come to all lands now
troubled by conflict."
Graham Harrison, Photographer.
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Dear Kash,
We are praying day and night for your
safe return.
Gayle Hegland
LS member and editorial illustrator
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Kash, I hardly know you, I only met you once, but that meeting left a deep impression on me. I was struggling to cope with the nerves of starting out in street photography, your tales of photographing in Afghanistan and Kashmir put my own worries into perspective. I actually experienced a turning point in my own photography that day, and I want to thank you for that inspiration. You have been very much on my mind this week. We have been reconnected by the fact that, almost by chance, I took a photo of you when we met. When I last emailed you I signed off with the words “stay safe”, and those words have come back to haunt me. I hope that your unbearable predicament is soon resolved peacefully and happily. My love goes out to you and your family.
Dan Sumption
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The
Kash GT noticeboard
