Hervé Ghesquière (February 5, 1963[1] – June 14, 2017[2]) was a French journalist most famous for being held hostage in Afghanistan by the Taliban for 547 days along with fellow reporter, Stéphane Taponier and their driver. They were released to French authorities June 29, 2011.[3]
Hervé Ghesquière | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 5, 1963 |
| Died | June 14, 2017 (aged 54) |
| Nationality | French |
| Occupation | Journalist |
Capture
editIn 2012, Ghesquière published his account of his capture. He called the press corps liaison officer, Lt. Colonel Fouquereau a coward for refusing to arrange a personal interview with a member of the Taliban. Ghesquière claimed that he was only captured because he wanted to interview Taliban members and it would not have happened if the French military had organized a meeting. Fouquereau won the resulting defamation suit.[4]
An article in L'express summarized the biography, pointing out that Ghesquière did not believe it would be dangerous to simply travel to a Taliban stronghold which he chose to do, without any security escort, on his own initiative.[5]
Yves Debay, senior war correspondent, wrote a scathing condemnation of Ghesquière. In it he uses several derogatory terms to describe Ghesquière's intelligence. The French Government never publicly disclosed the details of the exchange but points out that the original demands were the release of 17 Taliban officers and 20 million euros.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Hervé Ghesquière, journaliste nordiste, ex-otage en Afghanistan, est décédé – France 3 Hauts-de-France". France 3 Hauts-de-France. June 14, 2017.
- ^ "Mort du journaliste Hervé Ghesquière, ancien otage en Afghanistan". Le Monde.fr. June 14, 2017. ISSN 1950-6244.
- ^ "Two French journalists freed in Afghanistan after 547 days". FRANCE 24. June 29, 2011.
- ^ "Hervé Ghesquière condamné pour diffamation". AFP/ Le Point. September 5, 2019.
Le lieutenant-colonel Jackie Fouquereau, ancien responsable presse de l'armée à Kaboul, reprochait notamment à Hervé Ghesquière de l'avoir qualifié de "lâche"...Dans son livre paru mi-septembre 2012, Hervé Ghesquière met en cause l'armée française, surtout son responsable presse en Afghanistan, coupable, selon lui, d'avoir "intoxiqué" l'Élysée et le gouvernement en leur affirmant que les journalistes cherchaient "à tout prix à rencontrer des talibans", ce qui avait causé leur perte.
- ^ "Affaire Ghesquière: pièces à conviction d'un procès à charge". l'express. November 20, 2012.
- ^ Yves Debay (September 1, 2011). "Ghesquière et Taponier, l'imbécile ambition des " héros "" (PDF). No. 65. Assaut.
De plus il a menti à plusieurs reprises sur lesconditions ayant mené à la capture de l'équipe de France 3...On y trouve une décharge exemptant les forces armées Française de toutes responsabilités en cas de blessures ou de mort au combat dans le cadre du reportage. Ces formulaires, GHESQUIERE et TAPONIER les ont obligatoirement signés. Donc ils mentent et prennent le public et les membres de leur fan club pour des idiots en déclarant que l'Armée française ne les a jamais mis en garde sur les dangers d'un séjour en Afghanistan...20 millions d'euros...17 chefs terroristes..."
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