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Alan Johnston
is the West’s only journalist permanently reporting from Palestine’s Gaza Strip since 2003 – a task including heavy personal risks. BBC’s Alan Johnston’s coverage of events there have been hailed both by colleagues and monitors for their calm tone and strict impartiality.
On 12 March, 2007, the "Army of Islam" kidnapped and held him hostage for 114 days. The kidnappers demanded the release of Muslim prisoners in Great Britain. They released a video clip with Johnston being forced to wear an explosive belt in order to enhance the pressure on the British government. After his release on 4 July, 2007, Alan Johnston was awarded the Media Prize of Amnesty International’s British section.
Since November 2011, Alan Johnston works for BBC in Rome.
press photo Alan Johnston (jpg, 537kb)