Journalist’s mother asks his abductors to let him speak to her
Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire, Ayman
Mhanna, executive director of the SKeyes Center for press freedom and
culture, and Debra Tice, the mother of kidnapped US journalist Austin
Tice, gave a news conference at the Press Club in Beirut today at which
they called for him to be released “as quickly as possible.”
A hostage in Syria since 14 August 2012, Austin Tice completed his 1,000th day in captivity last week.
Invoking UN Security Council Resolution 1738 of 2006 on the protection
of journalists and Security Council Resolution 2319 of 2014 demanding
the release of all persons held arbitrarily in Syria, Deloire and Debra
Tice appealed for active support from all governments that claim to
defend media freedom.
Debra Tice said she had “every reason to
think” her son was still alive and addressed questions to those who have
information about him, especially those holding him.
“Can my son be allowed these days to communicate with me - by phone while I am in Beirut?”, she asked.
