Ramallah, 25-06-07: Palestinian National Initiative head, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi MP, again condemned the kidnappers of Alan Johnston following the release of a videotape in which Johnston appeared wearing an explosive belt, and called on them to immediately release Mr. Johnston safe and unharmed.
Dr. Barghouthi slated Johnston’s kidnapping as a flagrant violation of human rights and freedom of the press, and said that what Mr. Johnston was subjected to in the video is shameful and unacceptable.
He drew attention to Mr. Johnston’s role in bringing the suffering of ordinary Gazans to the attention of the world, and added that his kidnapping did nothing but harm the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people for an end to Israel’s occupation in the eyes of the world, and was a disservice to the Palestinian peoples’ traditionally strong and warm relations with internationals living and working in Palestine.