World Cup, Football | Strong reactions about Qatar-arrested journalists: – Shocking
NRK journalists Halvor Ekeland and Lokman Ghorbani are in place in Norway after they were arrested on a business trip in Qatar. The reactions have been hailed against the regime.
– We’re fine. These have been tiring days. We have been unsure, but it is very good to be home in Norway now, Ekeland told the press at Gardermoen on Wednesday morning.
Photojournalist Ghorbani responded briefly to VG about the more than 30 hours in solitary confinement in Qatar before they were released:
– It was trapped, he said.
Ekeland and Ghorbani were in Qatar to do reports in connection with it being a year until the football World Cup in the country starts.
The two arrived in Qatar on Sunday, November 14, and the next day, they had an appointment with regime critic Abdullah Ibhais. However, he was arrested by the police just hours before the interview appointment. According to NRK, the concerns for the journalists arose when they did not contact the editorial staff before departure, as agreed. Via sources, the channel eventually learned that they had been arrested. It happened Sunday night.
– Unacceptable
It has been subjected to reactions to the arrest of the journalist. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre calls it “unacceptable” on Twitter.
– A free press is a decision in a functioning democracy. This also shows the importance of this year’s awarding the Nobel Peace Prize. I am very happy that Halvor Ekeland and Lokman Ghorbani have now been released, he writes further.
Conservative leader Erna Solberg believes that Norway must take a clear stand on the issue.
– It is not worthy of a democracy, not worthy of a modern rule of law and not worthy of a host country for the World Cup. This is another argument that Qatar was never burdened with the championship in the beginning, says Solberg.
– I understand that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is handling the situation and expect the official Norway to say very clearly from above Qatar, she adds.
Liberal leader Guri Melby demands at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs convene the Qatari ambassador. The Foreign Ministry had not commented on this demand on Wednesday morning.
– It is important that journalists are allowed to carry out journalistic work without interference from authorities, also in Qatar, said Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt to VG earlier Wednesday.
The sport is responding
The Norwegian Sports Confederation is also reacting strongly:
– This information is shocking, shocking and totally unacceptable. We strongly dissociate ourselves from the arrest of journalists, whether they come from Norway or another country, and who carry out their social mission to prepare for international sports championships, says sports president Berit Kjøll in a press release.
The Norwegian Football Association (NFF) will contact the International Football Association (Fifa).
Secretary General Elin Floberghagen of the Norwegian Press Association believes that Norway should protest against the arrest.
Deprived of equipment
The journalists were deprived of camera equipment and other equipment by the police in Qatar and have not brought it home.
– We must have the equipment back, says NRK-sport’s boss Egil Sundvor says NTB.
Sundvor believes a journalistic boycott of Qatar is not the way to go.
– It is important that there are still new journalists, either from NRK or other media houses, in Qatar after this, he says.
– They have given a very clear message that free and critical press will have consequences. The press family and journalism insist on not being intimidated by it, but it is very uncomfortable to meet a regime that treats journalists in this way, Sundvor says.
(© NTB)