"We are outraged by efforts to silence the press by physically attacking, arresting and threatening journalists," declared IWMF co-chairs Barbara Cochran and Theodore J. Boutrous, Jr. "This targeted campaign to intimidate and muzzle the press must end. The world is watching," they added.
A number of US journalists covering the massive protests in Cairo and other locations in Egypt ran into hostile situations. IWMF board member Christiane Amanpour's car was attacked by unruly crowds. CNN's Anderson Cooper was punched in the head and his crew were shoved around, a Fox News team of correspondent Greg Palkot and producer Olaf Wiig ended up in the hospital and Leila Fadel, Cairo bureau chief of The Washington Post, was briefly detained along with photographer Linda Davidson.
According to information provided by the Committee to Project Journalists, the assaults and seizure of equipment have not been limited to Americans, but have also included Egyptians, other Arab journalists, Europeans and South American news professionals.
Founded in 1990, the International Women's Media Foundation is a global network dedicated to strengthening the role of women in the news media worldwide as a means to further freedom of the press.
The IWMF advocates for women journalists worldwide and calls attention to their bravery. Each year, the IWMF highlights the courage required to report the news in many parts of the world with the Courage in Journalism and Lifetime Achievement Awards.
For more information, visit www.iwmf.org.
