Media release - Canadian Journalists for Free Expression

Death of kidnapped reporter Daniel Pearl shocks CJFE

Toronto, February 21 - Today's announcement that reporter Daniel Pearl was murdered has stunned CJFE, which considers his death a shocking attack on press freedom.

According to news reports, Pearl's employer, the Wall Street Journal, said it had evidence from the United States State Department and police officials from the Pakistani province of Sind to confirm that the reporter was killed by his captors.

"We are outraged and saddened by the news," said CJFE Executive Director Joel Ruimy, whose organization had been monitoring developments in the case.

"The murder of Daniel Pearl is an act of barbarism. We extend our deepest regrets to his family and call on Pakistani officials to do everything in their power to identify and punish those responsible."

Pearl, 38, disappeared in Karachi on January 23 as he was attempting to make contact with Islamic radical groups. He was investigating links between the terrorist al Qaeda network and alleged shoe bomber Richard Reid, arrested in December on a Paris-Miami flight he is said to have boarded with explosives in his shoes.

Canadian Journalists for Free Expression is a non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to protecting freedom of expression both in Canada and around the world. CJFE manages the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) Clearing House, which brings together more than fifty press-freedom and free-expression groups world-wide.

For more information, please contact Joel Ruimy at CJFE, 489 College St., Suite 403, Toronto, Ontario, M6G 1A5, tel: (416) 515-9622 x227, fax: (416) 515-7879, e-mail: ruimy@cjfe.org, Web: www.cjfe.org.