Mr. Daniel Jouanneau, Ambassador of France to Canada
Embassy for France
42, Sussex Drive,
Ottawa, Ontario K1M 2C9

Dear Ambassador,

I am writing on behalf of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), a non-profit, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect press freedom and freedom of expression around the world.

CJFE is concerned about the criminal investigation launched by French authorities against Guillaume Dasquié, a reporter for the French daily Le Monde, on accusations of publishing state secrets related to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

On the morning of December 5, 2007, six inspectors of the French Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DST) arrived unannounced at Dasquié's home in Paris to search it. Afterwards, the inspectors interrogated him and tried to force him to reveal the sources for his article, which was published in Le Monde on April 17, 2007, and in June 2007 on the website geopolitique.com.

During the interrogation Dasquié was threatened with pretrial detention if he didn't reveal his main sources of information, but he managed to protect his main source and was released after 48 hours.

The use of psychological pressure and arrest to force journalists to reveal their sources is outrageous and violates article 109 of the French law, which says that journalists have the right to remain silent about their sources.

CJFE calls on the government of France to ensure that Dasquié Guillaume is not subjected to any further judicial persecution and his right to free expression, along with the rights of all journalists are respected.

We request that you convey our concerns to the government of France.

I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerly,

Arnold Amber, CJFE President

Case file number: 111207

c.c: Mr. Marc Lortie, Ambassador of Canada to France
Mr. Maxime Bernier, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs