Swiss journalists arrested filming report in Qatar

Published Apr. 18, 2011 9:38 a.m. ET

foxsports

A Swiss television network says it's contacting FIFA after two journalists were detained in Qatar while filming a report on the 2022 World Cup host.

Radio Television Suisse says the incident was a ''serious violation of press freedom.''

RTS says reporter Christophe Cerf and cameraman Yvan Thorimbert were stopped April 1, handcuffed and interrogated at police stations in Mesaieed and Wakra.

The network says a judge in Doha fined the journalists, confiscated their camera and stopped them from leaving the emirate.

Switzerland's ambassador in Kuwait intervened and the pair left with their camera after 13 days.

RTS says its journalists had previous assurances from Qatari diplomats in Geneva that they could film freely.