International press body welcomes release of Dutch journalist in Yemen

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) Wednesday welcomed the release of Dutch journalist Judith Spiegel. Spiegel and her husband, Boudewijn Berendsen, were kidnapped from their house in the Haddah area of Yemen's capital city Sana'a in June by a group of gunmen. According to reports, they were released at the weekend and are expected to return to the Netherlands today. "We welcome the fantastic news that Judith Spiegel and her partner have been released after being held in Yemen for over seven months and can now return to their family, loved ones and colleagues," said IFJ President Jim Boumelha." "The release of Judith Spiegel is a positive step forward in the struggle for press freedom, justice and the right of journalists to work freely and safely in Yemen," said EFJ President Mogens Blicher-Bjerregard. In a separate statement, the two media organisations appealed for the immediate release of two Spanish journalists who have been held in Syria for nearly four months. According to media reports, Javier Espinosa, the special correspondent on the Syria conflict for the Spanish daily El Mundo, and Ricardo G. Vilanova, a freelance photojournalist, were reportedly kidnapped on September 16 at the Tal Abyad checkpoint in Raqqa province, close to the border with Turkey. They were abducted while trying to leave Syria.