With actress Juliette Binoche and former French hostage Florence Aubenas attending, Reporters Without Borders staged a demonstration in Paris today in support of kidnapped American journalist Jill Carroll, exactly one month after her abduction in Baghdad. Thirty white balloons were released from the human rights esplanade at Trocadero, overlooking the River Seine, to mark each of the 30 days so far spent in captivity by Carroll.
Addressing the journalists present, Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Robert Ménard said it is essential to demonstrate: "The impressive show of solidarity that was maintained for Aubenas all the time she was a hostage should now be repeated for Carroll and for Iraqi journalists Reem Zeid and Marwan Khazaal, of whom there has been no news since they were kidnapped on 1 February," Ménard said.
Source: [RSF]
This is yet another wonderful gesture of support for Jill. I have always liked Juliette Binoche. This is yet another reason to respect her even more. Meanwhile, we are all praying and hoping here, hoping to see our Jill very soon. May God protect her and grant her the strength to endure this ordeal.
UPDATE: The Associated Press ran the story and included a nice quote from Binoche:
"We’re here to be with her, and to help her in a spiritual way," said Binoche, star of The English Patient. "I think our presence here is a way to sustain the possibility of freedom."
Excellent ! Ive always respected Juliette Binoche as a person and loved her as an actress… Im so optimistic about all this . Amen Natasha , may we here the good news as soon as possible.