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'Al Jazeera Media Network has seen news reported by some news agencies and on social media platforms stating that the closure of the Network and its channels are among the demands submitted by the countries boycotting Qatar, with news agencies stating they obtained the list from the officials of these countries.
We in the Network believe that any call for closing down Al Jazeera is nothing but an attempt to suppress the freedom of expression in the region and the people's right to information and the right to be heard.
We assert our right to practice our journalism professionally without bowing to pressure from any government or authority and we demand that governments respect the freedom of media to allow journalists to continue to do their jobs free of intimidation, threats and fear-mongering.
We also call on our peers in the industry, media institutions and other international organisations to re-affirm their solidarity in defending media freedom wherever it may be, particularly when confronted by threats to aggressively silence and suppress free speech and expression.
Since its inception twenty years ago, Al Jazeera has been reporting and telling people's stories from the ground and from all corners of the globe by putting the human being at the heart of the story. We remain determined and resolute to continue our courageous journalism, reporting frankly, fairly and truthfully from around the world.
Al Jazeera, a network that has continued through the years to win the industry's most prestigious awards for its journalism, considers the call for its closure nothing short than a siege against the journalistic profession.'
