On World Media Freedom Day, Tuesday May 3, Anton Hammerl’s wife Penny Sukhraj, his mother Freda Hammerl and brother Alex Hammerl will light candles for him at a vigil in London to mark the 29th day of his captivity in Libya.
Photo courtesy Daehyun Park
Simultaneously in Johannesburg his father Ludwig Hammerl will join Anton’s friends, former colleagues and journalists based in South Africa, to light candles and call for his release.
It will have been 29 days since anyone has had contact with the South African freelance photographer Hammerl who was captured near Brega on 5 April. He has not been heard from since, despite a range of informal assurances that he will be allowed to phone his family. Three other journalists held on the same day have made calls home. The detention of the four has ignited a global call for their release.
It is believed that 17 journalists are being held in Libya.
Tuesday’s vigils in London and in Johannesburg, have been organised by the Hammerl family and the Free Photographer Anton Hammerl Campaign to highlight the plight of Anton Hammerl, Manu Brabu (Manuel Valera), Jim Foley, Clare Gillis and all other journalists detained around the world.
Penny Sukhraj, Anton Hammerl’s wife, said on behalf of the Hammerl family, “As Anton’s family, these are dark days for us. The anguish of still not knowing where he is and whether he is well, grows with each day that passes with no word from him. Your presence here today, means you’re committed with us, to keeping strong the call for his release - and for this we’re deeply grateful. Please don’t give up on him - we can’t. We won’t.”
Candles will be lit for each day Anton has been missing and will serve as a reminder that the pressure for his release will not stop until Anton is home with his family.
The Johannesburg vigil will be held from 6.30 to 7.30pm at the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism, 9 Jubilee Rd, Parktown, Johannesburg. Speakers will include internationally renowned photographer Dr Peter Magubane, former Saturday Star editor Paula Fray and Sunday Times columnist and award-winning author Fred Khumalo. Professor Farid Esack will provide a spiritual message.
The London vigil will be held at “The Journalists’church” St Brides Church, Fleet Street in London (EC4Y 8AU).
Anton’s family requests those attending either of the two vigils to bring a candle.
For more information contact:
London: Bronwyn Friedlander at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Johannesburg: Peta Krost Maunder at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Free Photographer Anton Hammerl facebook group
This blog post was written and distributed by the South African Editors’ Forum