Kin of filmmakers taken in Patikul appeal for theair release

MANILA, Philippines - Relatives of two female filmmakers who were snatched by armed men in Patikul, Sulu last June 22 while doing a documentary on the lives of local Muslim coffee growers  on Tuesday appealed to the gunmen to release their kin.

According to Edd Usman, Manila Bulletin reporter and an uncle of victims Nadjoua Bansil, 39, and her sister, Linda, 36; the gunmen have yet to contact their family.

Usman added that with Ramadan's start on July 9, or July 10, Muslim religious leaders have also joined the call for the release of the kidnapped sisters.

According to Usman, the call is being led by Marawi City Shariah Circuit Court Judge Aleem Abo Ali Cali, president of the Ulama League of the Philippines.

The sisters' father, the late Aleem Abdulbasit Bansil, was a also a judge in Pagadian City's Shari'ah Circuit Court.

"We are appealing to whoever are holding our sisters Nadjoua and Linda Bansil to release them in the spirit of Ramadan and in the name of Islamic brotherhood and peace," Cali said.

According to Usman, Nadjoua and Linda who are also members of the Peace and Conflict Journalism Network (PECOJON) and Amnesty International, were doing a documentary on the lives of local coffee growers in Patikul, Sulu in the face of conflict when they were abducted.