The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH), strongly condemns the recent abduction of the Arab-Israeli CNN producer and translator Riad Ali. Last night at about 18:30, Riad Ali was abducted just outside CNN's offices in Gaza City.

CNN reported that Ali, a veteran producer for the station, was seized at gunpoint from a car he was riding in with other CNN colleagues, including correspondent Ben Wedeman. In an interview on CNN, Wedeman said that five armed Palestinians jumped out of a white Peugeot, approached the CNN team, and demanded to know which of them Ali was. After the CNN producer identified himself, he was taken from the car by the gunman. Wedeman said the kidnappers did not try to conceal their identities, nor did they say why they were abducting Ali.

Journalists and media workers must be protected as stated under Articles 19 and 29 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Articles 50 and 51 of the “Protocols Additional to the 1949 Geneva Conventions”, which emphasize the protection of civilians, which includes journalists and media workers in times of war. Article 79 of the “Protocols Additional to the 1949 Geneva Convention” further stipulates that: “journalists engaged in dangerous professional missions in areas of armed conflict shall be considered as civilians within the meaning of Article 50, Paragraph 1. They shall be protected as such under the conventions of this Protocol, provided that they take no action adversely affecting their status as civilians.”

In a statement released by the Executive Director of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Ann Cooper said, “We call on Riad Ali's abductors to release him immediately and unconditionally.” For the past four years CPJ has placed the Palestinian Occupied Territories as one of the six worst places in the world to be a journalist or media worker.

MIFTAH unequivocally condemns the group responsible for the kidnapping and deems such measures as extremely harmful and counterproductive in promoting the just Palestinian cause on the international arena, such conduct distorts the essential integrity of the plight of the Palestinian people. Hence, MIFTAH views such actions as utterly unacceptable and dangerous, calling on the kidnappers to release Riad Ali immediately and unharmed. Finally, MIFTAH urges the abductors to refrain from any such cruel and inhumane methods in the future.