In response to news that Pakistani reporter Rahman Bunairee was detained Monday by immigration officials at Washington Dulles International Airport while trying to enter the country to accept a one-year position with Voice of America, we issued this statement…
“Rahman Bunairee was targeted by Islamic militants for his reporting on the conflict in Pakistan, an area of great strategic interest to the United States. His employer arranged to bring him to Washington so that he could continue his journalism in relative safety,” said Bob Dietz, CPJ Asia program coordinator. “U.S. authorities must explain why they are holding a journalist with a valid U.S. visa and release him immediately.”