The Doha Centre for Media Freedom (DCMF) has urged the release of Al Jazeera journalists detained in Egypt, and joined supporters of the #FreeAJStaff campaign in pointing out that journalism is not a crime.

The centre is especially concerned about the deteriorating health of journalist Abdullah al-Shami, who has been detained without charge since August 2013, and has now been on hunger strike for 78 days.

The centre has joined other organisations and individuals to demand the immediate release of these journalists, and for all charges against them to be dropped.

In a statement, the Doha Centre for Media Freedom explained that access to information is a basic human right, and it is essential for the development of a peaceful society adhering to democratic principles and respecting human liberties.

Egypt is experiencing major historical changes at the moment, and citizens have a right to be informed.

“The Doha Centre for Media Freedom believes that one day in prison for practicing journalism is one day too many; one hundred days in prison is a serious aberration which must be resolved,” the statement added.

Al Jazeera Press Office announced yesterday that journalists from all over the world marked the 100th day of imprisonment of Al Jazeera English journalists.

At the Paley Centre in New York City, Al Jazeera English’s executive producer for news gathering in the Americas, Owen Watson, opened the news conference with a call for the immediate release of the journalists in Egypt.

Colleagues from the Associated Press, ABC News and the New York Times, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and sister-channel Al Jazeera Arabic, joined him in solidarity.

Abderrahim Foukara, Al Jazeera Arabic’s Washington, DC bureau chief, made note of al-Shami’s detention without charge.

The news conference concluded with an announcement of the International Documentary Association’s letter of support for the campaign.

Journalists from the BBC also took part in the social media #FreeAJStaff campaign, posting photos and messages of support for the four arrested Al Jazeera staff.

Al Jazeera English managing director Al Anstey welcomed the support: “The response has been amazing from the one-minute silence outside New Broadcasting House organised by the BBC, to the press conference in New York.

“More than 40,000 people have been actively involved in the campaign, events have been held in more than 30 countries and in every continent, there have been over 900mn impressions of the FreeAJStaff hashtag, and there have been repeated calls for an end to the detention of our journalists from governments as well as media organisations from all corners of the globe.”