ON WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY, SHAHEEN CONTINUES CALL FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE REPORTER IMPRISONED IN LIBYA

(Washington, DC) – Today on World Press Freedom Day, Shaheen issued the following statement, continuing her call for the release of Rochester, New Hampshire native James Foley from detainment in Libya:

“On World Press Freedom Day, I call on Libya’s leaders to immediately release journalist James Foley and his colleagues. Detaining journalists, foreign or domestic, is recognized worldwide as a tool of oppression and further delegitimizes your regime in the eyes of the world,” Shaheen said. “The press serves the honorable role of pursuing truth and holding governments accountable. I urge countries around the world to uphold the freedom of the press.”

Upon learning of Foley’s detainment, Shaheen has been working with the U.S. State Department as well as the Turkish Embassy, a U.S. and a NATO ally that is currently representing U.S. interests in Tripoli.  Shaheen’s office has also contacted Human Rights Watch, which has representatives on the ground in Libya and first reported of Foley’s capture, and spoke directly with Foley’s employer and reached out to his family as well to offer support and assistance.