Japanese journalist kidnapped in Syria defends going to war-zone

A Japanese journalist held hostage in Syria for more than three years said the media must continue to take risks covering warzones to keep the world’s attention focused on those caught up in conflicts.

Jumpei Yasuda, 44, was kidnapped in Syria the same day he entered the country in June 2015, sparking a lengthy ordeal that he described as “hell”.

The freelance journalist has faced harsh criticism in some quarters of Japan for venturing into an active warzone.

But he defended himself on Friday during his first press conference in Japan since his release last month.

“When there are things like a violent conflict happening

Jumpei Yasuda, 44, was kidnapped in Syria the same day he entered the country in June 2015, sparking a lengthy ordeal that he described as “hell The freelance journalist has faced harsh criticism in some quarters of Japan for venturing into an active warzone

somewhere on earth, there is absolutely a need for journalists who will go there and see what is happening,” he said.

“You need information from third parties, not just information from governments.” Syria’s grinding civil war has cost over 360,000 lives since it broke out in 2011 and quickly became hugely dangerous for reporters with dozens kidnapped, some of them murdered by their captors.

Yasuda, who had previously reported from Syria’s frontlines, said he was not sure whether he would return to the country or cover future warzones. But he said he hoped his high-profile case would draw attention to Syria’s civil war.

TOKYO AFP NOV2,2018