Vienna, 02/09/2016
The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) calls for the release of Lindsey Snell, an American journalist who was detained while travelling to Turkey from Syria.
Snell, a video journalist currently residing in Istanbul, Turkey, was detained by police on 7 August after escaping a terrorist group in Syria. Snell had gone to Syria to film, and was allegedly held hostage for two weeks. According to her spouse, Snell’s apartment in Istanbul was raided by police on 22 August, and her laptop, hard disc, video camera and other materials were confiscated. Her husband was also detained for two days, under suspicion that he had tried to destroy evidence in the journalist’s apartment, and was involved in the failed coup attempt in Turkey on 15 July.
SEEMO members call on authorities in Turkey to immediately release Lindsey Snell. Incarcerating investigative journalists in conflict zones only worsens and intensifies the atmosphere of censorship and media violations in the region. Media workers must be allowed to do their job professionally and freely, without pressure or fear of censorship.
SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe and its press freedom work is supported by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) project, as part of a grant by the European Commission.