Safety of journalists in Syria under the spotlight

(Vatican Radio) Major news organizations are becoming increasingly concerned about the safety of journalists reporting in Syria. Thirteen news outlets have sent a letter to the leadership of the armed opposition in Syria, calling for urgent action against rebel groups increasingly targeting journalists for kidnappings.
The letter is in response to a sharp rise in the number of journalists while on assignment in opposition-held areas in northern Syria.
Many of the abduction cases go unreported at the request of families or employers in the hope that keeping the kidnappings out of public view may help with negotiating the captives' release.
It’s believed that up to 40 Syrian and foreign journalists are being held against their will and the lack of response to individual mediation efforts have encouraged some families and employers to speak out.
Speaking to Lydia O’Kane, Soazig Dollet who is Head of the Middle East and Africa Department for Reporter Without Borders says, “since early September we can really notice an increased number of kidnappings not only on foreign journalists but also of Syrian news providers.”
She goes on to say, “not all names are made public for confidential reasons and security reasons.”
On Tuesday, the families of two Spanish journalists abducted nearly three months ago appealed publicly for their release, after failing to make contact with the captors via intermediaries.
While jihadi groups are believed responsible for most kidnappings since the summer, government-backed militias, criminal gangs and rebels affiliated with the Free Syrian Army also have been involved. Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s interview with Soazig Dollet